Sunday 7 February 2016

Dunya TV

Dunya TV

Tennis: Russia humiliated in Fed Cup, Swiss into semi-finals

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PARIS (AFP) - Russia and Italy, who have won eight of the last 12 Fed Cup titles, crashed out of this years tournament Sunday while defending champions Czech Republic survived to set-up a semi-final duel with Switzerland.Russia, the champions in 2004, 2005, 2007 and 2008, suffered an embarrassing 3-1 defeat to the Netherlands in Moscow.Italy, who were title winners in 2006, 2009, 2010 and 2013, were also dumped out in the first round, going down 4-1 to France in Marseille.But Switzerland, who have never won the Fed Cup, made the semi-finals for the first time in 18 years with a thrilling 3-2 win over Germany in Leipzig thanks to Belinda Bencic and Martina Hingis clinching the decisive doubles.While the Netherlands and 2003 champions France meet in one semi-final in April, the Swiss will tackle the Czechs, who edged out Romania 3-2, in the other.The Dutch, without a single player in the top 100, made the semi-finals for the first time since 1997 after Kiki Bertens defeated two-time Grand Slam winner Svetlana Kuznetsova 6-1, 6-4.Kuznetsova, the world 17, had lost a four-hour marathon against Richel Hogenkamp on Saturday in the longest singles match ever played at a Fed Cup.The 24-year-old Bertens, ranked at 106, took her Fed Cup singles record to 13 wins and one loss after the Dutch, 2-0 up overnight, claimed a famous win against a Russian team who had Maria Sharapova warming the bench all weekend.Russia captain Anastasia Myskina said she wasnt tempted to risk Sharapova, who won both singles rubbers in the countrys 2015 final loss to the Czech Republic.No, she had a problem with her left arm and that wasnt good. We decided on Thursday that she wouldnt play, said Myskina.In Leipzig, 18-year-old Bencic won her third point of the weekend when she teamed up with 35-year-old Hingis to beat Germanys Andrea Petkovic and Anna-Lena Groenefeld 6-3, 6-2.Standing 1-1 overnight, Bencic downed Australian Open champion Angelique Kerber 7-6 (7/4), 6-3 before Annika Beck celebrated her maiden singles appearance by seeing off Timea Bacsinszky 7-5, 6-4 to make the tie 2-2.I was cheering them on for the first four matches and then I had to go out there, said Hingis, who returned to the Fed Cup last year for the first time since 1998 in an attempt to play in the Rio Olympics.Bencic praised Hingis who captured the Australian Open womens title with Sania Mirza in Melbourne last weekend.She did all the great volleys and all the doubles stuff. I was just happy I could play with her, said Bencic, the world number 11 in singles.The Czech Republic, recent champions in 2011, 2012, 2014 and 2015, were taken to a deciding doubles in Cluj by Romania before Karolina Pliskova and Barbora Strycova saw off Andreea Mitu and Raluca Olaru 6-2, 6-3.Simona Halep put Romania 2-1 up earlier Sunday after battling past two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 before the impressive Pliskova levelled the tie with a 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 win over Monica Niculescu.In Marseille, Caroline Garcia defeated Camila Giorgi 6-3, 6-4 to put France into the semi-finals for the second year running. Earlier, Kristina Mladenovic saw off Sara Errani 7-6 (7/4), 6-1 to put the French 2-1 ahead after the two nations had split the opening singles on Saturday.In World Group II, where the winners face the Group I losers in April for places in the elite section in 2017, Venus Williams guided the United States to an unassailable 3-0 lead over Poland in Hawaii.Williams, who played in her countrys title-winning team in 1999, defeated Magda Linette 6-1, 6-2 for the crucial point. Australia beat Slovakia 3-2 in Bratislava, Spain swept Serbia 4-0 in Kraljevo while Belarus saw off Canada 3-2 in Quebec City.

Football: Costa rescues Chelsea, Arsenal bounce back

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LONDON (AFP) - Diego Costa snaffled a stoppage-time equaliser to preserve interim manager Guus Hiddinks unbeaten record as Chelsea snatched a 1-1 draw at home to Manchester United on Sunday.United looked to be closing to within four points of the Premier Leagues top four after Jesse Lingards 61st-minute goal set Louis van Gaals men on course for a third consecutive win in all competitions.But in the first of six minutes of injury time, added on for a serious-looking knee injury to Chelsea centre-back Kurt Zouma, Costa rounded David de Gea to score, extending Hiddinks unbeaten run since succeeding the sacked Jose Mourinho to 10 matches.I am happy with the reaction of the team. Manchester United are not an easy team to beat, but we deserved a point, said Hiddink.On Zoumas injury, Hiddink said: Tomorrow we know more, but if you have this injury -- and everyone has seen how bad it is -- hyper-extension is always bad. I had this same problem once and it hurts.Chelsea remain 13th, 17 points below the top four, but while their Champions League qualification hopes have long seemed over, Costas goal dealt a weighty blow to embattled United manager Van Gaal.Van Gaal bullishly dismissed speculation linking Mourinho with his job prior to the game, but he finishes the weekend with his side six points below the top four.When your aim is to be third or second or first then you need to win because the gap is already big, Van Gaal told Sky Sports.The gap is now bigger than before, so thats not good.Buoyed by breezy recent wins over Derby County, in the FA Cup, and Stoke City, in the league, United made a strong start, with Anthony Martial testing Thibaut Courtois in the 18th minute.Chelsea rallied, John Terry seeing a penalty appeal waved away after his shot hit Daley Blind on the arm, but after Zouma had been stretchered off following an awkward fall, United made the breakthrough.Cameron Borthwick-Jacksons cross was helped on by Wayne Rooney and Lingard took a touch before slamming in his second goal in two games.But after United goalkeeper De Gea had saved from Branislav Ivanovic and Cesc Fabregas, Costa equalised in stoppage time when he gathered Fabregass pass, rounded De Gea and slotted home.Earlier, Mesut Ozil and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain scored twice in a minute as Arsenal got their title challenge back on track by winning 2-0 at Bournemouth.Arsenal had slipped to fourth in the table after going four games without a win, but victory at Dean Court took them up to third, level on points with second-place Tottenham Hotspur and five points below leaders Leicester City, who visit the Emirates Stadium next Sunday.We had a strong start, with good finishing, and we controlled the game, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger told the BBC.We beat a good side. It was three difficult points, but three very important points for us because we had not won for a while.It was a must-win game for us today. Leicester have made a big impression in the last week after their results. They suddenly become the favourite in the Premier League and it makes our game a big game.Ozil opened the scoring in the 23rd minute, skilfully slamming home right-footed after Olivier Giroud nodded down Aaron Ramseys flighted pass to claim his first goal since the 2-0 win over Bournemouth on December 28.Ramsey was also the architect of Arsenals second goal a minute later, slipping a pass wide to the overlapping Oxlade-Chamberlain, who drilled a low shot in off the left-hand post for his first away goal in five years.We were slow out the blocks today, which is unlike us, said beaten manager Eddie Howe, whose side remain five points above the relegation zone.If you give a team like Arsenal time on the ball they will punish you.

Football: Unconvincing wins for Barca, Real, more woe for Neville

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MADRID (AFP) - Barcelona equalled a club record of 28 games unbeaten to move three points clear at the top of La Liga with a hard-fought 2-0 win at Levante on Sunday.Zinedine Zidanes Real Madrid remain four points behind the leaders in third thanks to Luka Modrics stunning strike five minutes from time to snatch a 2-1 win at Granada.Meanwhile, the pressure continues to build on Valencia boss Gary Neville after his winless La Liga streak stretched to nine games with a 1-0 defeat at fellow strugglers Real Betis.Barca were far from their best in coach Luis Enriques 100th game in charge, but David Navarros first-half own goal and Luis Suarezs strike in stoppage time was enough to secure a 10th consecutive win in all competitions.The European champions now lead Atletico Madrid by three points and have a game in hand on both Atletico and Real.More than statistics, I am interested in the collective objectives that we have and we can only reach them at the end of the season, said Enrique.We are very well-positioned in all competitions, but there is a long way to go.Barca needed a slice of luck to open the scoring on 21 minutes as Jordi Alba burst down the left and his ball into the box was deflected into his own net by Navarro.Levante remain rooted to the foot of the table, but deserved to be at least level at the break as they outplayed the Catalans in the latter stages of the first-half.Jose Luis Morales came closest to equalising when his low effort came back off the post eight minutes before the break.However, Barca took the sting out of the game in the second-half and sealed the points with the last move of the match as Lionel Messi picked out an unmarked Suarez to fire home his 36th goal of the season.Real were also very fortunate to remain in the title hunt as they were dominated in large spells by Granada and were rescued by Modrics fantastic late strike into the top corner from 20 yards.Modric scored a great goal that has given us life and, above all, three points, said Zidane.You have to fight until the end and Im happy that is what we did.Karim Benzema continued his fine form since French compatriot Zidane took charge last month as he converted Dani Carvajals cross for his seventh goal in five games after half an hour.Granadas fine build-up play lacked a cutting edge before half-time, but they got a break to level on the hour mark as Modric crashed into the referee, sparking a counter-attack which ended with Youssef El Arabi slotting home the equaliser.Real looked jaded and off-form throughout, with Cristiano Ronaldo particularly anonymous, but their best player on the night, Modric, salvaged the three points when he fired home his first goal of the season five minutes from time.At the other end of the table, Valencia remain just four points above the relegation zone as Neville failed to produce the reaction he hoped for following a 7-0 thrashing at the hands of Barcelona in the Copa del Rey in midweek.What matters are results. We knew this would be about one or two moments and they have not gone our way, said Neville.Its just not going for us at the moment. That was a pretty solid away performance. I continue to work, I continue to have belief and any conversations with the owners are between me and the owners.Betis hadnt won for nine league games either, but eased their relegation worries as Ruben Castro took advantage of some statuesque Valencia defending to tap home his 10th goal of the season four minutes after half-time.Alvaro Negredo had a great chance to equalise moments later, but Juan Manuel Vargas got back to clear his effort off the line before Valencia were reduced to 10 men late on as Jose Luis Gaya saw a second booking.

Football: Di Maria fires unbeaten PSG past Marseille

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PARIS (AFP) - Paris Saint-Germain defeated bitter rivals Marseille 2-1 on Sunday to extend their record unbeaten run in Ligue 1 to 34 matches as the hosts remained unable to solve their home woes.Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored his league-leading 21st goal of the season to give PSG the lead inside two minutes at the Stade Velodrome, but Remy Cabella hauled Marseille level midway through the first half with a wonderful solo effort.However, Angel Di Maria struck the winning goal on 71 minutes to hand PSG a 15th straight win in all competitions and keep Laurent Blancs side a huge 24 points clear at the top of the table.Marseille gave us a really physical battle which we expected. We showed our solidarity to see out the victory, but weve now got to ready ourselves for the two games before Chelsea (in the Champions League). Its not going to be easy, said Blanc.The players, like you (journalists), are thinking about the game against Chelsea but...its not the last game before Chelsea, theres one in three days and another in six.Marseille have now failed to win any of their last 10 home games in the league, while their streak of 11 games without defeat was also snapped after succumbing to a ninth successive Classique loss. Despite the defeat Michels side are still just five points off third-place Nice, who they visit next Sunday, in the race for the final Champions League spot.Billed as French footballs most explosive fixture, Sundays encounter on the south coast was no different with five people arrested prior to kick-off following a run-in with police outside the ground.Blanc made six changes to the side that beat Lorient on Wednesday to set a new record for the longest sequence of games without defeat in the French top flight, recalling the likes of Di Maria, Blaise Matuidi and David Luiz.Marseille welcomed back both Michy Batshuayi and Abdelaziz Barrada from suspension, while Lassana Diarra made his return from injury in central midfield.PSG were unbeaten in their last 10 meetings with Marseille, having won the last six in Ligue 1, and the visitors again seized the upper hand before the hosts had time to settle.Maxwell was sent galloping down the left wing after after being released by Matuidi and the Brazilian picked out Ibrahimovic at the back post as the Swede netted for the fifth game running.France midfielder Matuidi again dissected the Marseille defence a few minutes later, although this time Di Maria dragged his shot agonisingly wide of the far post.Barrada should have levelled for the home side when Thiago Motta failed to clear Brice Dja Djedjes cross, but the Morocco midfielder lashed over as the ball dropped invitingly for him.However, the hosts did equalise on 25 minutes as Cabella gathered the ball near the halfway line, skipped past Motta and fired low beyond Kevin Trapp from outside the area, with the German unable to keep it out despite getting a strong hand to the ball.Lucas wasted a prime chance to restore PSGs lead when he scuffed wide after a sublime Di Maria through ball, while Maxwell was forced to clear off the line after Batshuayi hooked a corner goalwards.But PSG continued their dominance of Marseille as Di Maria, set up by Ibrahimovic, swept home his ninth goal of the season 19 minutes from time to keep the capital clubs winning run intact. Steven Fletcher came on for his Marseille debut late on, while Georges-Kevin Nkoudou watched a shot flash wide as the hosts hit PSG on the break but ultimately were left still searching for a first home win since September.Earlier, Saint-Etienne registered a thumping 4-1 win at Bordeaux to move level on points with Nice, while Rennes salvaged a point late on in a 1-1 draw at Lille.On Saturday, Monaco strengthened their hold on second place with a 1-0 win over Cote dAzur rivals Nice, while Lyon continued their mini-revival with a 3-0 victory away to Angers.

Football: Higuain hits 24th goal as Napoli, Juve pull away

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MILAN (AFP) - Gonzalo Higuain hit his 24th goal in as many Serie A games as triumphant Napoli and Juventus moved closer towards a scudetto duel after slip-ups by title rivals Inter Milan and Fiorentina.Higuain and Napoli have been transformed since Maurizio Sarri took over from Rafael Benitez last summer but it took a second-half penalty for the Argentinian to keep Napoli top of the pile in a cagey 1-0 win over 10-man Carpi.Napolis 17th win maintained their two-point cushion on champions Juventus, who saw Juan Cuadrado break the deadlock on 73 minutes and Paulo Dybala score at the death to wrap up a patchy 2-0 win away to league new boys Frosinone.After Fiorentina saw their title hopes dented in a 1-1 draw at Bologna on Saturday, Inter had the chance to replace La Viola in third place and maintain their title charge with a win away to basement side Verona.But Roberto Mancinis men maintained their poor form in front of the opposition net before settling for a 3-3 draw.It left Fiorentina third at 10 points behind Napoli and Inter in fourth at 11 off the pace and probably now requiring a miracle to realistically challenge for a first title since their treble-winning season of 2010.Neither are likely to welcome Romas return to the fray with a generous 2-1 win at home to Sampdoria thanks to Diego Perottis second-half winner, his first since moving from Genoa two weeks ago, and Wojciech Szczesnys late heroics for the hosts.It left Roma fifth at 12 points adrift of Napoli but now just one behind Inter.Napoli are bidding to win their first title in 26 years and will travel to Juventus next weekend looking to hand the champions defeat for a second time this season.The feat would see Napoli pull five points clear and send a clear signal that the Azzurri, over two decades on from Diego Maradonas heyday at the club, have their eye firmly on winning a first scudetto without the Argentina legends help.Higuain and Sarri both played down the importance of the fixture, the Argentine telling Mediaset: Its not the most important game of the year, its a game like all the others.Sarri said: Its pointless to think this game will be decisive, there are so many games left and anything can happen.We should be happy that Juve consider us their biggest rivals but well go there to play our game and honour our fans.But Napolis plans to upset the champions appeared to start immediately afterwards when Sarri cancelled his post-match press conference. Napoli fans had flocked to the San Paolo stadium after answering calls by a supporters group to hold up masks of Kalidou Koulibaly after the clubs Senegal defender was the victim of monkey chants during a 2-0 win at Lazio in midweek.It was an impressive sight and had Koulibaly suitably impressed: It was unforgettable.Thanks to all the fans who, thanks to this memorable initiative, made the San Paolo an even more special place to be.But Napoli failed to find the net until Higuain stepped up to beat Vid Belec from the spot after Koulibaly had been hauled to the turf by Fabio Daprela.With 14 games remaining the Argentine is chasing Gunnar Nordahls 1950 record of 35 Serie A goals in a single, 20-team season.At Frosinone, Juventus had seen several great chances go amiss before Cuadrado sent a crisp, first-time shot from Alex Sandros delivery into the hosts net on 73 minutes.Dybala wrapped up the points at the death for Massimiliano Allegris men when he swept Alvaro Moratas unselfish lay-off past Nicola Leali in the first minute of added-on time.With 13 league goals the Argentinian is now second in the race for the Capocannoniere (top scorer) prize, 11 behind Higuain and one ahead of Eder (Inter) and Carlos Bacca (AC Milan).After last weeks scrappy 1-0 home win over Genoa, the win left Allegri looking forward, albeit cautiously, to next weeks clash.These kinds of games are difficult and nobody gives you the win on a plate, said Allegri.The lads did well and now we have a week to prepare for the Napoli game, but after that we still have another 13 matches. The championship is far from over.

Football: DR Congo reclaim African Nations Championship title

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KIGALI (AFP) - DR Congo sealed their second African Nations Championships title when they defeated Mali 3-0 in a one-sided final at Kigalis Amahoro National Stadium on Sunday.Meshack Elia scored a double and Jonathan Bolingi added a third as the Leopards overwhelmed the young Malian side under driving rain.The champions, winners of the inaugural title in 2009, dominated the match and it was not a surprise when Elia put them ahead after 29 minutes.The TP Mazembe star picked up a long ball down the left, before firing a thunderous shot past the Malian keeper.Elia doubled the lead in the 62nd minute for his fourth goal of the tournament.Malis best chance came in the 58th minute when substitute Kouame NGuessan tried a long range shot which flew over the bar.Bolingi ended all hopes for the Eagles with a third goal in the 73rd minute to crown the Leopards dominant display.Ivory Coast took third spot after beating debutants Guinea 2-1 in the play-off. Guinea missed two penalties in the game. The first half was evenly match but Guinea were unlucky to fall behind when they conceded an own goal through Mohamed Youla after 32 minutes.The Syli Nationale also failed to convert a penalty they were awarded in the 26th minute when Abdoulaye Samake was brought down inside the Ivory Coast box.Ibrahima Sory Sankhon was the man to see his spotkick saved by Abdoul Karim Cisse.Gbagnon Badie increased the Elephants advantage with a powerful strike from the edge of the Guinea box.Cisse then saved a second penalty to deny Alseny Camara in the second half.Substitute Mohammed Thiam tried to bring Guinea back into the game but the AS Kaloum defenders attempt was ruled offside.In the closing stages, fellow defender Aboubacar Camara made no mistake when he drove a low header past Cisse to cut the deficit but Ivory Coast held on to secure third place.

Golf: Willett wins Dubai Desert Classic

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DUBAI (AFP) - Overnight leader Danny Willett battled hard to hold on to his lead on Sunday and got his reward with a final green, one shot win in the $2.5 million Dubai Desert Classic.At the Emirates Golf Club, the Englishman was finally caught up by the unrelenting chasing pack of Andy Sullivan and Spains Rafael Cabrera-Bello on the 18th hole.But the world number 20 stepped up and made a pressure-packed 15-feet birdie putt to win his fourth European Tour title.Willett, who had opened up a three-shot lead mid-way through the front nine, had to battle hard on the back nine.And as his rivals started making more birdies on the easier back nine, Willett had to grind out pars to stay ahead.Sullivan, who had finished second in Dubai less than three months ago to Rory McIlroy in the DP World Tour Championship, made a birdie on the difficult par-3 15th hole, and then saved remarkable pars on the 16th and 17th holes after hitting errant drives.But when it mattered the most - on the 18th hole - he hit a superb wedge third shot that spun back several yards and left him with a curling 12-feet birdie putt to get to 18-under par.Sullivan did that to finish with a four-under par 68, and was joined at 18-under par moments later by Cabrera-Bello.The Spaniard birdied the 17th hole and hit two towering shots to set up an eagle putt from the back of the green.However, his effort from 35 feet just slid past the hole, leaving him with a tap-in birdie.Willett hit a good tee shot on the 18th, but rolled into the rough and had to lay up with his second.The approach shot wasnt the best and left him with a testing 15 feet downhill putt to win the tournament outright, but he nailed it right in the middle.Willett, who is expected to move into the top-15 of the world rankings for the first time in his career with the victory, said: Its always great to come out early in the season and win.Everything Ive done has been really good this week, and mentally Ive been as good as I have been for a long, long time.I stayed patient and let things happen. Its very nice to know that I can dig deep and produce what I can when it is needed the most.Youd love to win by five or six every time you win, but when you win in that fashion, it does feel that little bit extra special.It means when the pressure is on I can produce the goods.Sullivan felt he did not do enough in the middle of the round and said: Fair play to Dan, holing that putt, that was a tough putt.I didnt feel like I put him under enough pressure through the midpoint of the round. Had a lot of chances and didnt quite take them.World number two Rory McIlroy finished with a seven-under par 65 round, but that was good only for tied sixth place at 15-under par 273 alongside world number six Henrik Stenson (66).And McIlroy, who could only make a par on the par-5 18th hole, said: It was okay I guess. Sort of got it going today a little bit better and played the front nine better.Played nicely for the most part but disappointed about the 18th. I made a wrong decision off the tee by not hitting the driver.But all in all, it was a decent weekend and decent way to play the last 27 holes, anyway.The game feels in decent shape. Struggling with the driver a little bit, so just want to try and work on that.Got a week off to work on those things and get ready for LA in a couple weeks time. Spains Alvaro Quiros and Koreas Byeong Hun-An were tied fourth at 272 with identical rounds of seven-under par 65 each.

Australia make New Zealand bat in deciding ODI

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HAMILTON (AFP) - Australia won the toss and put New Zealand in to bat in the series-settling third and final one-day international in Hamilton on Monday. The match will be Brendon McCullums 260th and last ODI before he plays two Tests against Australia and then bows out of international cricket later this month. It gives the New Zealand skipper a chance to lift the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy, contested between the two countries, after Australia beat New Zealand in the World Cup final last year.New Zealand won the first ODI by 159 runs and Australia took the second by four wickets, and captain Steve Smith said the way they batted in that game in Wellington two days ago influenced him to bat second again in Hamilton.Were going to have a bowl. Its quite a small ground, weve been chasing pretty well and the wicket looks good, he said.Australia have kept the same line up while New Zealand have been forced to change two with Ish Sodhi and Doug Bracewell coming into the side to replace an injured Mitchell Santner and an unwell Trent Boult.Teams: New Zealand: Brendon McCullum (capt), Martin Guptill, Kane Williamson, Henry Nicholls, Corey Anderson, Grant Elliott, Luke Ronchi, Ish Sodhi, Adam Milne, Doug Bracewell, Matt Henry.Australia: David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Steve Smith (capt), George Bailey, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Marsh, Matthew Wade, Adam Zampa, John Hastings, Scott Boland, Josh Hazlewood. Umpires: Ian Gould (ENG), Derek Walker (NZL). TV Umpire: Sundaram Ravi (IND). Match referee: Chris Broad (ENG).

Bus film stunt explosion shakes Londoners

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LONDON (AFP) - The explosion of a red double decker bus in central London on Sunday alarmed witnesses unaware that it was actually a stunt for a Jackie Chan action film.The bus was travelling across Lambeth Bridge not far from Britains parliament when its top deck exploded with a large bang in a ball of flames.One witness was the author Sophie Kinsella who said children in a park nearby had been freaked by the sight.I was freaked too. Looked very real, she wrote on Twitter.In fact it was a controlled explosion for the action film The Foreigner, starring actors Chan and Pierce Brosnan, which is due out later this year.But for some it was all too reminiscent of the 7/7 attacks that killed dozens of people in London in 2005. One of those attacks targeted travellers on a red double decker bus.John Taylor, whose 24-year-old daughter Carrie was killed in the 7/7 attacks, asked whether the stunt had been properly thought through.You can totally understand why some people would be alarmed seeing this today, Taylor told the Daily Mirror newspapers online edition.This seems particularly insensitive.The bridge had been closed and the film producers had issued warnings of a controlled explosion to local residents and businesses before it was carried out.Authorities, however, sought to reassure people afterwards.If you saw this on Lambeth bridge this morning dont worry it was for a film & not a real incident, wrote London Fire Brigade on Twitter.

PIA's missing employees return home

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KARACHI (Dunya News) – Pakistan International Airlines’ (PIA) missing four employees have been found and returned home on Monday. Unknown individuals left them near Nagin Chowrangi area.Hidayatullah, Saifullah, Zameer Chandio and Mansoor were missing since 2nd February.PIA’s Joint Action Committee (JAC) had earlier announced a protest towards Jinnah terminal for the recovery of the missing employees.The employees had been missing for 6 days. Families of the 4 personnel had been grief stricken since they went missing.Chandio’s wife had earlier stated that unkown individuals had threatened to break the door of their house and had called him to the airport police station.Saifullah’s daughter was also severely distressed on her father’s disappearance and demanded that her father be searched for.PIA employees are on a strike against the government’s move to privatize the organization.

Rawalpindi: Section 144 imposed around airport

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RAWALPINDI (Dunya News) – Government has chalked out a strategy to deal with PIA’s protesting employees at the Rawalpindi’s Benazir Bhutto International Airport as Rawalpindi district administration has imposed Section 144 around the airport for 48 hours.The assembly of four or more people at a time or holding a public meeting or taking out a procession within the jurisdiction of airport has been banned.The local administration said that Section 144 was imposed as passengers at the airport are facing difficulties due to protests being staged by PIA employees.

PIA flight operation from Lahore partially restored

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LAHORE (Dunya News) – The flight operation of the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) from Allama Iqbal International Airport, Lahore has also been partially restored on early Monday morning, Dunya News reported.A PIA flight from Islamabad landed at the Lahore airport and then returned back while four flights left for Saudi Arabia, two for Medina and two for Jeddah, to bring back over one thousand stranded Umrah pilgrims.A PIA flight from Islamabad landed at the Lahore airport and then returned back while four flights left for Saudi Arabia. PIA’s flights PK-735 and PK-743 left Medina and PK-731 and 759 left for Jeddah to bring back over 1000 stranded Umrah pilgrims.Two more international flights, one each for Dubai and Abu Dhabi, are expected to take off from the Allama Iqbal International Airport shortly.Earlier, PIA’s flight operations on Sunday have been partially restored on the 6th day of the strike as the Federal government refused to back down from its stance. Seven flights of the national airlines are ready for services.Meanwhile 1000 Umrah pilgrims stranded in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia finally arrived back to Pakistan. One of the flights reached Gilgit-Baltistan and returned back.The pilgrims who faced severe problems due to the suspension of flights strongly complained about their distress.According to the spokesperson for PIA, two Boeing 777 planes reached Islamabad. Flight PK7330 carried 400 while the other PK-760 transported 325 pilgrims back to the country. One flight of PIA carrying only 4 of the pilgrims arrived in Gilgit-Baltistan in the morning. According to the PIA spokesperson, the flight was full of passengers on its way back however.Officials have stated that flights from airports of rest of the country will also be restored soon.PIA flight operations were restored 2:00 am Sunday morning when two planes of the airlines left for Jeddah to pick up the stranded Umran pilgrims.According to the spokesperson for the Federal government, the decision by PIA employees to resume duties, even though partially, was praiseworthy. He hoped that complete operations of the organization will be restored soon.

Flower believes PSL can benefit Pakistan youngsters

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DUBAI (AFP) - Former Zimbabwe captain and ex England coach Andy Flower Sunday says the Pakistan Twenty20 league can benefit the countrys budding players in the same way Indians have benefitted from their league.The 47-year-old, who is now looking after Englands youth side and is serving as Peshawar team coach in the Pakistan Super League (PSL), said: I think this tournament will be very good for Pakistans youngsters in the way the IPL (Indian Premier League) is being very good for Indian cricket.I think there are five excellent sides and we should have brilliant cricket over the next couple of weeks and we have seen skilful performance and there is a lot of talent.The PSL have 69 local and 29 foreign players, with high profile names in West Indian Chris Gayle and Darren Sammy, former England batsman Kevin Pieteresen and Australias Shane Watson.The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) aims to boost the national team -- currently eighth in one-day and seventh in Twenty20 rankings -- and to groom some young players.I think its an interesting initiative by PCB and its important for Pakistan cricket and that it is a success. It has started successfully, said Flower, who played 63 Tests and 213 one-day for Zimbabwe during an illustrious career.The PSL is absolutely a launching pad for Pakistan youngsters, some of the benefits they get by mixing with overseas players and gain from their experience and they also get confidence by sharing the same nets and dressing room, said Flower.He singled out Peshawars left-arm spinner Mohammad Asgher as a player for the future.The very good example is Asgher and his performance will do him a world of good, said Flower of the spinner who has taken five wickets for just 31 runs in eight overs in his teams two wins.The other factor is that the league might take away some of the myths of some of the international cricketers and allow the youngsters to understand that they are also human beings like them who are good at playing cricket and that can grow their confidence, said Flower.The ongoing PSL ends on February 23.

Paris replaces injured Richardson for Australia

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SYDNEY (AFP) - Paceman Kane Richardson has been ruled out of Australias final one-day international against New Zealand with back trouble and will be replaced by Joel Paris, Cricket Australia said Sunday.Richardson was a late withdrawal from Saturdays second ODI and CA said he would return home for further investigation into the issue.Paris had been with Western Australias Sheffield Shield squad in Lincoln, New Zealand, where he took four wickets for 37 in the drawn match against New South Wales.Paris made his ODI debut in this seasons ODI series against India.Richardson faces an anxious wait to determine the extent of his back injury with Australia set to announce their World T20 squad later this week.Richardsons injury trouble adds further problems for selectors already faced with injuries to T20 skipper Aaron Finch and allrounder James Faulkner, who both have hamstring issues.Australia levelled the three-game Chappell-Hadlee Trophy ODI series with a four-wicket win over the Black Caps in Wellington on Saturday.The third and final match will be played in Hamilton on Monday.Paceman James Pattinson is also with the Australia squad in New Zealand but he has been instructed to focus on the first Test against New Zealand in Wellington starting on February 12.

Snake that Steyn faces down Black Mamba

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JOHANNESBURG (AFP) - When one of the worlds most feared fast bowlers came face to face with one of the planets deadliest snakes, there was only one winner and South Africas Dale Steyn was happy to concede defeat.Steyn, the spearhead of the South African bowling attack, posted a video on his Instagram account showing him and a friend thinking they were coming to the aid of a stricken, harmless Brown House snake on an isolated road in the Kruger National Park.On closer inspection, the 32-year-old Steyn then realised he was just inches away from a deadly Black Mamba.So this poor guy was hit by a car, we stopped to move him out the road thinking it was a brown house snake, Steyn wrote in a message alongside the brief footage.Got a little too close and then realized what we were actually dealing with Mr Black Mamba This post is not to show how brave we were, its to show that if you dont know what you dealing with then best you leave it alone Lesson learnt wildouthere blackmamba.Steyn, the veteran of 82 Tests and 112 one-day internationals, is currently sitting out the limited overs series against England.
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