Wednesday 23 September 2015

Dunya TV

Dunya TV

Pakistan team left for Zimbabwe

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LAHORE (Dunya News) – Pakistan cricket team left for Zimbabwe from Allama Iqbal International Airport on a 12-day tour on early Thursday morning.Pakistan will play two T20s and three ODIs against Zimbabwe on the tour. Shahid Afridi will lead Pakistan in T20 matches while Azhar Ali will lead the side in the ODIs. All the matches will be played at the Harare Sports Club.

Pilgrims gather pebbles for last major Hajj rite

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MUZDALIFAH (AFP) - A sea of Muslim pilgrims moved on Wednesday towards the holy site of Muzdalifah in Saudi Arabia, where they gather pebbles for the last major rite of this years Hajj.Their symbolic stoning of the devil on Thursday will coincide with the Eid-ul-Azha feast of sacrifice marked by the worlds more than 1.5 billion Muslims.Around two million white-clad faithful spent a day of prayer Wednesday on a vast Saudi plain and its Mount Arafat for the peak of the Hajj pilgrimage.Police sirens pierced the air and helicopters hovered overhead as the faithful later arrived at nearby Muzdalifah, where water sprays cooled them. They placed prayer rugs and mats on the ground where they will remain until dawn. Many laid down to rest but others savoured tea and refreshments offered by fellow pilgrims. Most were busy choosing the pebbles they planned to use for the next days stoning, storing them in empty water bottles.We are implementing the Prophets sunnah (tradition) by gathering the stones, said Mezian Abdelkarim, 60, of Algeria.We pick up a total of 49 pebbles to stone the devil, said Bangladeshi pilgrim Shafiq al-Alim, who is performing the pilgrimage for his dead grandmother. He and others had earlier prayed and recited the Quran at Mount Arafat, a 300-metre-high (328 yards) slippery, rocky hill where they believe the Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) gave his last sermon 14 centuries ago after leading his followers on Hajj.Carrying colourful umbrellas as protection from the searing heat, they had walked from dawn in massive crowds towards the plain and its hill -- also known as Mount Mercy.We prayed as much as we could, with much spirituality, said Mohammed Zahran, 39, of Lebanon.Unlike in previous years, only a few pilgrims were seen carrying their countries flags, in what Saudi media said was a ban during the pilgrimage.The kingdoms authorities have repeatedly warned against the use of political slogans or banners during Hajj.Saudi Arabias civil defence agency reported more than 200 cases of fainting and fatigue after doors failed to operate and crowds formed at a station of the Mashair Railway, which moves pilgrims between the holy sites.The faithful gathered in their hundreds of thousands for noon prayers at Mount Arafat, where Saudi Arabias top cleric, Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdulaziz al-Shaikh, gave his annual sermon.He used the opportunity to attack Yemens Iran-backed rebels, against whom the kingdom has been leading a military coalition since March. The Huthi rebels at war with Saudi and Gulf troops in Yemen are a group of criminals, Shaikh charged.Most Yemeni pilgrims performing the Hajj this year already reside in the kingdom.After Muzdalifah, some pilgrims head to Mecca to circumambulate the cube-shaped holy Kaaba structure while others go to Mina -- a tent city which will be the final stop for pilgrims and where the stoning ritual occurs.It emulates the Prophet Abraham, who is said to have stoned the devil at three locations when he tried to dissuade Abraham from Gods order to sacrifice his son Ishmael.Almost 1.4 million foreign pilgrims are joining hundreds of thousands of Saudis and residents of the kingdom for this years Hajj.They are undeterred by a construction crane collapse at Meccas Grand Mosque, Islams holiest site, that killed 109 people including foreign pilgrims earlier this month.About 400 people were injured by the crane which was working on an expansion of the mosque.Previously marred by stampedes and fires that killed hundreds, the pilgrimage had been largely incident-free for the past nine years after safety improvements.The Hajj is among the five pillars of Islam and every capable Muslim must perform it at least once in a lifetime.For many, it is the spiritual peak of their lives.This years gathering takes place against a backdrop of increased jihadist violence in some Muslim countries, a surge of the potentially deadly MERS virus, as well as the war in Saudi Arabias neighbour Yemen.Authorities say they are on alert for possible attacks by extremists, after Islamic State group jihadists bombed security forces and Shiite mosques in the kingdom in recent months.Potential transmission of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) is another challenge facing authorities but health officials say there has never been a case of MERS infection among pilgrims.Hajj began on Tuesday when pilgrims entered ihram, a state of purity in which they must not quarrel, wear perfume, or cut their nails or hair.During ihram, men wear a seamless two-piece shroud-like white garment, while women must wear loose dresses, generally also white, exposing only their faces and hands.The clothing emphasises the unity of pilgrims, regardless of their nationality or whether they stay in one of Meccas five-star hotels or a shabby high-rise hostel.

Wozniacki beats Konjuh to reach Pan Pacific quarterfinals

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TOKYO (AP) - Top-seeded Caroline Wozniacki beat Ana Konjuh 6-2, 6-2 on Wednesday to advance to the quarterfinals of the Pan Pacific Open.Wozniacki had a first-round bye and faced little resistance from the Croatian qualifier in a match that lasted just over 80 minutes at Ariake Colosseum.The Dane won five of nine break points to set up a quarterfinal with fifth-seeded Angelique Kerber of Germany who rallied to defeat Madison Brengle of the United States, 5-7, 6-1, 6-0.Its always tough when you havent played matches for a while so Im just happy to win this one and be through to the next round, said Wozniacki, whose last outing was a second round loss to Petra Cetkovska at the US Open. There are a few things I want to work on but Im happy with the victory.Wozniacki, who won here in 2010, improved to 2-0 against Konjuh.Third-seeded Garbine Muguruza of Spain beat Barbora Strycova of the Czech Republic 6-3, 6-4 and next faces eighth-seeded Belinda Bencic of Switzerland.Bencic rallied to beat Samantha Stosur 6-7 (5), 6-3, 6-4.It was Bencics first win against the Australian veteran who lost despite hitting 13 aces.Muguruza and Bencic will be playing against each other for the first time.

Football: Barca thrashed 4-1 by Celta Vigo, Madrid go top

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MADRID (AFP) - Barcelonas 100 percent start to La Liga season was brought to a stunning end as Celta Vigo thrashed the European champions 4-1 on Wednesday.Real Madrid took advantage of Barcas defeat to move a point clear of the Catalans at the top of the table thanks to Karim Benzemas double in a 2-1 win at Athletic Bilbao.Celta sit second, behind Madrid only on goal difference, after comprehensively inflicting Barcas first league defeat since February.Barcelona slip to fifth as Villarreals 1-0 win at Malaga also gives them a share of the lead in third.Former Barca forward Nolito put Celta in front before Liverpool reject Iago Aspas struck twice on the counter-attack.Neymar pulled a goal back for Barca, but Celta rightly had the final word as John Guidetti rounded off a famous win with the Galicians fourth nine minutes from time.It is the third time Barca have conceded four goals in just nine games this season having been thrashed 4-0 by Athletic Bilbao in the Spanish Super Cup and beaten Sevilla 5-4 in the UEFA Super Cup.We can only congratulate Celta, said coach Luis Enrique, who left Vigo to take over at the Camp Nou last year.They played a very complete game, created chances and won all the one-on-one situations. The level of their football and effectiveness in front of goal was very good.Celta took the lead on 25 minutes when Nolito found space inside the area and curled the ball perfectly high into the far corner.Things got worse for Barca just four minutes later when an error from Gerard Pique allowed Nolito to play in Aspas, who remained calm before expertly clipping the ball over the helpless Marc-Andre ter Stegen.The hosts had to withstand a brief Barca onslaught at the start of the second-half as Lionel Messi struck the post from Andres Iniestas cut-back.Pique then headed just over and Messi saw another powerful effort turned behind by Sergio Alvarez.Yet, from the resulting corner, Celtas lightning speed and accuracy shone through as Aspas hooked the ball over Dani Alves and sprinted half the length of the field before slotting home his second of the night.Neymar finally got Barca on the scoresheet as he controlled a fantastic pass from Messi before smashing the ball home.Yet, Celta needed just two minutes to restore their three-goal lead when former Celtic and Manchester City striker Guidetti took advantage of more slack Barca marking to fire home his first goal in Spanish football.In Bilbao, Madrid were gifted the lead on 19 minutes when Benzema pounced on an under-hit back-pass from Mikel San Jose to net for the fifth consecutive game.Cristiano Ronaldos wait to surpass Raul as Reals top-scorer continued as his best effort of the night was beaten away by Gorka Iraizoz moments later.Athletic grew into the game as the half wore on and only a fine save from Keylor Navas prevented Aritz Aduriz bringing the Basques level before the break.There was nothing Navas could do to prevent conceding his first goal of the season midway through the second period when Sabin Merino rounded off a fine team move with a diving header at the back post to equalise.But Athletic were only level for three minutes as they afforded way too much room to Isco on the right as his low cross was swept home by Benzema.We showed two sides to our game, said Madrid boss Rafael Benitez.In the first-half with a lot of possession we had four or five chances when we could have finished the game and then in the second-half we had to show character and work hard.Elsewhere, Sevillas nightmare start to the campaign continued as they remain rooted to the bottom of the table after a 2-0 defeat to promoted Las Palmas, who celebrated their first top flight victory in 13 years.

Football: Liverpool survive League Cup scare, Newcastle out

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LONDON (AFP) - Liverpool survived an almighty scare in the League Cup by edging fourth-tier Carlisle United on penalties on Wednesday, while Sheffield Wednesday dumped Newcastle United out of the tournament.Carlisle, the lowest-ranked team in the competition, took Liverpool to penalties at Anfield after the game finished 1-1 following extra time, Derek Asamoah having cancelled out Danny Ings 23rd-minute opener.Adam Lallana and Philippe Coutinho both saw penalties saved by Mark Gillespie, but reserve goalkeeper Adam Bogdan parried the decisive spot-kick from Carlisles French forward Bastien Hery to earn Liverpool a 3-2 shootout win and spare manager Brendan Rodgers a humiliating exit.Liverpool followed Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester United and Manchester City in going through and will host Bournemouth in round four.But while they avoided a defeat that would have recalled their elimination on penalties by Northampton Town at the same stage of the competition five years ago, it was not a result that will enhance Rodgerss position amid speculation about his future at the club.Liverpools inefficiency was demonstrated by a shot count that read 47-5 in their favour, while centre-back Dejan Lovren had to be stretchered off after injuring his ankle in extra time.Newcastle manager Steve McClaren is another manager feeling the heat after his side, who have won none of their first five Premier League games, lost 1-0 at home to Championship side Wednesday.Lewis McGugan scored the games only goal, beating Newcastle goalkeeper Tim Krul with a low shot from outside the box in the 76th minute to send Wednesday into round four for the first time since they reached the semi-finals in 2002.Were very angry, very disappointed, but nobody can do anything about it but us, said McClaren.We have to turn it around. We have to draw a line in the sand and say how far do you have to go?Wednesdays reward was a home tie with Arsenal, who overcame Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 in the north London derby thanks to a brace from unlikely match-winner Mathieu Flamini.Bidding to avoid three consecutive defeats for the first time since April 2010, Arsenal, who made 10 changes to Spurs eight, took a 26th-minute lead when French holding midfielder Flamini followed in to score after Michel Vorm parried a long-range shot by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.Spurs were rewarded for a spell of sustained pressure when Calum Chambers poked Nacer Chadlis cross into his own net in the 56th minute, only for Flamini to give Arsenal victory 12 minutes from time with a superb low volley from just outside the box.We responded very well physically and mentally and when we stay with 11 players, we can win games, said Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, in a nod to his sides recent disciplinary problems.Holders Chelsea continued their recent revival by winning 4-1 at third-tier Walsall to record a third consecutive victory.Missing Diego Costa, who began a three-game ban for striking Arsenals Laurent Koscielny at the weekend, but with captain John Terry back in the team, Chelsea won through goals from Ramires, Loic Remy, full debutant Kenedy and Pedro Rodriguez.Jose Mourinhos side will visit Stoke City in the fourth round.Anthony Martials assured start to life at Manchester United continued as the French striker scored his fourth goal in three games in a 3-0 victory against second-tier Ipswich Town at Old Trafford.Wayne Rooney and 19-year-old Brazilian Andreas Pereira, with a stylish free-kick, were also on target for Louis van Gaals side, who will host second-tier Middlesbrough in round four.He did it against Liverpool (coming off the bench to score) and now again, said Van Gaal of 19-year-old Martial.We are happy, but still we have to keep our feet on the ground.Elsewhere, Jay Rodriguez, Sadio Mane and Shane Long all scored twice as Southampton swept into round four with a 6-0 rout of second-tier Milton Keynes Dons, who conquered Manchester United in last seasons competition.Dwight Gayle claimed a hat-trick, including two penalties, as Crystal Palace beat Charlton Athletic 4-1, while Norwich City beat top-flight rivals West Bromwich Albion 3-0 courtesy of goals from Matt Jarvis, Kyle Lafferty and a Sebastien Pocognoli own goal.

Football: Dortmund drop first points to leave Bayern top

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BERLIN (AFP) - Borussia Dortmund dropped their first Bundesliga points of the season on Wednesday as their 1-1 draw at Hoffenheim left Bayern Munich two points clear at the top.After Bayerns staggering 5-1 win at home to Wolfsburg on Tuesday, when Robert Lewandowski scored five goals in nine second-half minutes, Dortmund squandered the chance to regain top spot.Dortmund had their 11-match winning run ended as they failed to match the Bavarians six straight wins, giving Pep Guardiolas side a psychological advantage for the Dortmund-Bayern clash in Munich on Sunday week.Second-placed Dortmund found themselves 1-0 down at Hoffenheim when Germany international Sebastian Rudy netted just before the break.But Dortmund coach Thomas Tuchel brought on defensive midfielder Ilkay Gundogan and Henrikh Mkhitaryan and the equaliser followed soon after.Midfielder Gonzalo Castro chested down Mats Hummels pass and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang stabbed home his seventh goal in six league games on 55 minutes.It was the perfect time to score just moments after Hoffenheims Chile international Eduardo Vargas had hit the post after beating Dortmund goalkeeper Roman Buerki, but Borussia could not force a winner.Ex-Manchester United striker Javier Hernandez scored his first goal in the Bundesliga with the winner for his new club Bayer Leverkusen to seal their 1-0 win over Mainz.It ended his sides three-match losing streak in the German league.Having already scored for Leverkusen in the Champions League, Chicharito produced a superb solo effort with a darting run before showing clinical finishing on 69 minutes.The Mexican made way for Stefan Kiessling soon afterwards, but ex-Dortmund midfielder Kevin Kampl hit the post as Leverkusen came within a whisker of a second in the final ten minutes.Schalke are third after Cameroon centre-back Joel Matip headed home from a corner, then Leroy Sane scored late on, his second in as games, to seal their 2-0 home victory against Eintracht Frankfurt, fortheir third consecutive win. Borussia Moenchengladbach climbed off the bottom of the league with their first win after five straight defeats with a 4-2 victory over Augsburg under caretaker coach Andre Schubert, following Lucien Favres shock resignation.Gladbach, who host Manchester City next Wednesday in the Champions League, raced into 4-0 lead after just 21 minutes with goals by Fabian Johnson, Lars Stindl, Granit Xhaka and teenager Mahmoud Dahoud, who scored his first goal for the club on only his seventh appearance.Augsburg hit back when Paul Verhaegh converted two second-half penalties, but Gladbach held on and are now 16th.Hanover went bottom after their 2-1 defeat at home to Stuttgart, which leaves coach Michael Frontzeck under pressure with just one point from their opening six games, while Stuttgart are second from bottom.

Football: Ben Arfa at double as Nice hit Bordeaux for six

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PARIS (AFP) - Hatem Ben Arfa inspired Nice to a come-from-behind 6-1 victory over Bordeaux on Wednesday, scoring twice in a performance that should help bury his recent tussles with footballing red tape.Jaroslav Plasil had finished off a neat Bordeaux build-up on six minutes as the visitors looked firmly on top, but Nice soon pulled ahead thanks to Ben Arfas industry and imagination.Goals from Valere Germain and then Mikael Le Bihan, who tapped in a rebound from a long range shot from Ben Arfa, had Nice 2-1 ahead at half-time.From the restart things got even worse for Bordeaux with a red card for Enzo Crivelli after 50 minutes and then an own-goal by Nicolas Pallois a minute later.Ben Arfa then crowned a magnificent personal performance with a brace of goals on 68 and 74 minutes, one a tap in after a lightning breakaway, the other a flashing shot after a mazy run.Alexandre Mendy added the sixth in the 84th minute.Ben Arfa had been set to join Nice during the last winter break but was caught up in an administrative mix-up before FIFA and the French football governing body stepped in to block the transfer. He had played a game with Newcastles reserves during the summer of 2014 before being loaned out to Hull City, meaning he was prevented from joining Nice due to a rule that a player can only play for two clubs in a single season.Earlier this week, he lost his appeal against the ruling and where he had been trying to recover the earnings he lost during the time he was sidelined.Saint Etienne needed an own goal in a 1-0 win against plucky newcomers Troyes, which came when Thomas Ayase tried to keep track with the onrushing striker Romain Hamouma only to turn the ball into his own goal.Christophe Galtiers team came fifth last season but are now sitting pretty in second, just a point behind Paris Saint Germain who beat Guingamp 1-0 on Tuesday.Elsewhere, Lyon beat Bastia 2-0, Lorient beat Caen by the same score and tiny Gazalec Ajaccio of Corsica got their first home points in Ligue 1 with a 1-1 draw with Rennes.

RugbyU: France beat Romania 38-11 in Rugby World Cup Pool D

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LONDON (AFP) - Sofiane Guitoune scored two tries as France made it two World Cup wins out of two with a 38-11 Pool D victory over Romania at Londons Olympic Stadium on Wednesday.The French scored five tries to seal a bonus point, with wing Guitoune and flanker Yannick Nyanga going over in quick succession in the first half.Guitoune and centre Wesley Fofana also crossed within minutes of each other late in the game before Gael Fickou went over two minutes from time. France coach Philippe Saint-Andre made 13 changes to the side that beat Italy 32-10 in their Pool opener at Twickenham on Saturday -- when wing Yoann Hugets World Cup was ended by injury -- and it showed early on as Romania forced a series of turnovers after Morgan Parra kicked Les Bleus into an early lead.Romania thought they had the games first try in the 17th minute when, after winning a line-out near the French line, they drove forward and spun the ball to centre Florin Vlaicu.But, with replays inconclusive, South African referee Jaco Peyper -- much criticised for excessive use of video replays during Englands opening win over Fiji last Friday -- disallowed the score.However, Romania had won a penalty in front of the posts and Vlaicu kicked his side level.He then missed from 35 metres out and, worse still for Romania, tighthead prop Paulica Ion was sent to the sin-bin after deliberately collapsing a maul.France made the most of their man advantage in the 30th minute. Guitoune dived over near the right touchline, keeping his feet inside the whitewash, despite a last-ditch tackle by Catalin Fercu.Scrum-half Parra added the conversion to make it 10-3 and three minutes later France, three-time losing World Cup finalists, had another converted try.Full-back Brice Dulin, coming into the line with a neat side-step, initiated the move with a well-judged pass from Parra finding Alexandre Flanquart who in turn released Nyanga, with the flanker crossing the Romanian line out on the right.Parra kicked another excellent conversion before Vlaicu cut Frances half-time lead to 17-6 with his second penalty.More sloppy play marred Frances start to the second half and they failed to make the most of good field position when they kicked a penalty to touch for a line-out just metres from the Romanian line.But they eventually had a third try in the 66th minute when Guitoune, stretching for the line, was eventually ruled to have scored despite suspicions of a double movement.Parra converted and the game was beyond Romania.The French then made sure of the bonus point when Dulin released Fofana, who grounded the ball despite some despairing last-ditch tackles, with Rory Kockott kicking the conversion. But the try Romania -- coached by Welshman Lynn Howells -- deserved for their efforts came when flanker Valentin Ursache went over from a close range line-out in the 73rd minute before France centre Fickou completed the try-scoring.

Boxing: Clown and Fury Klitschko blasts Batman prank

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LONDON (AFP) - World heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko blasted Tyson Fury as a clown Wednesday after his British title rival arrived at a news conference dressed as Batman.Fury, who will take on the Ukrainian in Dusseldorf on October 24 for the WBA, WBO and IBF titles, burst into the room at a London hotel dressed as the Caped Crusader. Good job, Tyson Fury, said Klitschko, adding he would find the British fighter a job in the circus.I have good friends in Cirque du Soleil, they can give you a job as a clown. Im telling you, not in an abusive way, Ive a lot of friends from the circus industry. Theyre clowns, its very tough to make people laugh.Calling you a clown, or having a good job at Cirque du Soleil in future, is a compliment. Watching this theatre, its in your genes, its there. Not every person has so much luck.Fury even predicted the round in which he would defeat the 39-year-old champion.Any round you want. What round do you want, sir? The sixth? Wladimir? Ill put him to bed in the sixth round, said the 27-year-old.Im as confident of winning as waking up in the morning and putting my shoes on, said Fury.Thats how this fights going to go. A very sharp, easy, simple knock-out. Theres no doubt in my mind I cant beat Wladimir Klitschko.I wouldnt be the fighting man I am if I didnt. Hes had all them defences, won all them fights, beat all them Americans, all them Europeans, but he aint beat me.You may have fought plenty of peasants in your time, from Poland or wherever, but youve not fought the king of the gypsies before. Youre looking at one here.Youre an old man, youre getting knocked out. I cant wait, I cannot wait for this.

Cycling: Kiryienka wins world men's time trial crown

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RICHMOND (AFP) - Vasil Kiryienka, the European Games time-trial champion from Belarus, captured the mens individual time-trial crown Wednesday at the World Road Cycling Championships.The 34-year-old Kiryienka completed the 53.5km (33.5 miles) course in 1hr 2mins 29.45secs at 51.368 k/hr to capture his first world title by 9.08 seconds over Italys Adriano Malori with Frenchman Jerome Coppel third in 1:02:56.07.It was a shock podium on a day when favorites faltered, with Australian Rohan Dennis suffering a flat tire and finishing sixth, Dutchman Tom Dumoulin slowed to fifth by a hip injury and three-time world champion Tony Martin of Germany a distant seventh.Kiryienka, third at the 2012 worlds in his only prior podium in the event, was the third-to-last starter in a field of 70 but the fastest rider at every checkpoint, adding to a season that saw him win the individual time-trial at this years Giro dItalia.Malori, 27, is a 3-time Italian time-trial champion who captured the 2008 under-23 world championship.Coppel, the 29-year-old French national time-trial champion, took the first medal for France in the event since Laurent Jalaberts 1997 triumph.The course began at a suburban ameusement park and wound through the countryside before reaching the Virginia capital and concluded with a steep 300-meter climb leading to a left turn onto the closing straight.While his podium partners charged after the 20km mark, Kiryienka started fast and seized command to seize the rainbow jersey symbolic of global cycling supremacy.Dennis, who won this years Tour de France opening stage time-trial, suffered a flat tire just past the halfway point and had to switch bikes, dooming his title bid.The 25-year-old from Adelaide, who led BMC Racing to a second consecutive victory in the world team time-trial, had this year set a Tour de France individual time-trial record speed average of 55.446 k/hr (34.5 mph).Martin missed the podium for the first time after a six-year medal run and failed in his bid for a fourth title to match Swiss star Fabian Cancellaras all-time record.Martin was third behind winner Cancellara in 2009 and 2010, took the title himself from 2011-13 and was second last year behind Britains Bradley Wiggins, who has retired from road racing.Dumoulin, 24, was third last year but has a sore left hip. He won a time-trial stage in this years Vuelta a Espana on his way to a six-place finish overall.

Oil market drops on US energy report

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LONDON (AFP) - Oil prices fell Wednesday, reversing earlier gains, as a modest rise in US output overshadowed a hefty drop in crude inventories in the worlds top consumer.Investor sentiment was also dented by gloomy Chinese manufacturing data, which stoked fresh concern over oil demand in the Asian powerhouse.US benchmark West Texas Intermediate for delivery in November sank $1.29 to $45.07 a barrel compared with Tuesdays close.Brent North Sea crude for November delivery slid 76 cents to stand at $48.32 a barrel in late afternoon London deals.The US governments Department of Energy (DoE) reported that American commercial crude inventories sank by 1.9 million barrels in the week ending September 18.That indicated stronger-than-expected demand for crude in the worlds top oil consuming nation.Market expectations had been for a lighter drop of 1.25 million, according to analysts polled by Bloomberg News.However, the DoE also revealed that American oil output rose by 19,000 barrels per day (bpd) to 9.136 million bpd, snapping a six-week run of falls.The increase in oil production is the only new bearish factor in the oil markets right now, apart from the weak Chinese manufacturing numbers that were released earlier today, said Natixis analyst Deshpande Abhishek.The weekly DoE report is a closely-watched barometer of demand in the worlds biggest economy.Oil also retreated after a vital measure of manufacturing in China fell to its lowest level in more than six years, signalling weaker demand in the worlds top energy consumer.The prospects of weaker demand come as the oversupplied global oil market is already troubled by expectations Iranian crude will return within months if Tehran is found to have complied with a deal to curb its nuclear ambitions.Crude oil prices were weighed by a double whammy of increasing prospects of the return of Iranian oil on the market, as well as potential fall in demand from China after the Chinese flash Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) fell to a six-year low, said IG Markets analyst Bernard Aw.The closely watched PMI for Chinese factory activity came in at 47 in September, down from August and the lowest since March 2009.A result below 50 indicates the manufacturing sector is contracting, while anything above shows expansion.Traders are closely watching the progress on Tehrans compliance over its deal with world powers that would see the lifting of sanctions, allowing it to export more oil.Iran on Monday said it had independently collected samples at a suspect military site where illicit nuclear work is alleged to have occurred and later handed them to UN inspectors who were not physically present.

Euro gains as ECB stimulus not seen as immediate

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NEW YORK (AFP) - The euro advanced against the dollar and other leading currencies Wednesday after European Central Bank chief Mario Draghi signaled a cautious approach to further monetary stimulus.Draghi, addressing a parliamentary panel in Brussels, acknowledged that the macroeconomic environment had become more challenging compared with earlier in the year.But Draghi said more time was needed to determine whether weaker conditions in emerging markets are of a temporary or permanent nature, he said.Draghi said the central bank could adjust its asset purchase program if more monetary policy impulse should become necessary.Joe Manimbo, a senior market analyst at Western Union Business Solutions, said Draghis remarks were more hesitant than expected on stimulus.Draghi suggested stronger stimulus wasnt right around the bend, Manimbo said.Draghi today signaled a wait and see approach to policy, not meeting markets dovish expectations which helped allay bearish pressure on the euro, he said.

Patel gets England recall after Ansari injury

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LONDON (AFP) - Nottinghamshire all-rounder Samir Patel has replaced Zafar Ansari in Englands squad to face Pakistan after Ansari dislocated his left thumb, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced on Wednesday.The last of Patels five Test appearances came in India in 2012, but the 30-year-old will now join the squad for the forthcoming three-Test series in the United Arab Emirates.Uncapped left-arm spinner Ansari, 23, hurt himself while playing for his county Surrey against Lancashire at Old Trafford last week, just hours after his first Test call-up.Patel admitted he figured his England chance had come and gone and that his recall came out of the blue.I didnt think this day would come again, he said.I certainly wasnt expecting a Test call as I thought that door had probably closed for me. I feel sorry for Zafar but I hope I can make the most of the chance Ive been given.England national selector James Whitaker said he felt sympathy for Ansari.The timing of this injury, on the day his selection was announced, was particularly cruel for Zafar and he is naturally extremely disappointed to have to pull out of the tour, said Whitaker.As a left-arm spinner and a middle-order batsman, Samit is a similar type of player to Zafar and his previous international experience, and in particular, experience of performing for England in sub-continental conditions will be an extremely useful asset to the squad in the UAE.Ansari saw a hand specialist on Tuesday and underwent an MRI scan. He is due to undergo rehabilitation on his injury and will be re-assessed in around three weeks.England, who beat Australia 3-2 in this years Ashes series, will play three Tests against Pakistan in October and November, followed by four day/night one-day internationals and three Twenty20 matches.Revised England Test squad:Alastair Cook (Essex, capt), Moeen Ali (Worcestershire), James Anderson (Lancashire), Jonny Bairstow (Yorkshire), Ian Bell (Warwickshire), Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire), Jos Buttler (Lancashire, wkt), Steven Finn (Middlesex), Alex Hales (Nottinghamshire), Samir Patel (Nottinghamshire) Liam Plunkett (Yorkshire), Adil Rashid (Yorkshire), Joe Root (Yorkshire), Ben Stokes (Durham), James Taylor (Nottinghamshire), Mark Wood (Durham).

President is apolitical, met with PML-N workers in personal capacity: spokesperson

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ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) -- The Presidency has said that the President is a symbol of the federation, is above politics and does not possess political ambitions, reported Dunya News.Presidential Spokesperson said that the President has been active in provincial politics of Sindh for a long time and his relations extend to a vast network of worker and their political leadership. That is why a large number of political activists are desirous to meet the President, said the spokesperson.Recently, officials of Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) requested to meet the President in personal capacity in Islamabad to which the PM asked Mamnoon Hussain to meet the persons in PM House.Presidential Spokesperson has said that there is no truth in the rumors and dispelled any such notions.

Rawalpindi: Holidays of all institutions cancelled, WASA put on high alert

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ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) -- Commissioner Rawalpindi has canceled holidays of all institutions. Water And Sanitation Agency (WASA) staff has been to put on alert as chances of rain on the festival of Eid are high, reported Dunya News.Commissioner Rawalpindi has cancelled holidays of institutions including Rescue 1122, WASA and other relief institutions. All personnel of these institutions have been instructed to remain alert. According to Commissioner Rawalpindi Sajid Zafar, vacations of hospital staff have been cancelled.Staff working in dengue ward has been instructed to stay active.
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