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Cricket - Sports

Saturday, December 31, 2016

Dunya TV

Dunya TV


Trump praises 'very smart' Putin for holding off on reprisals against US

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WASHINGTON (AFP) - US President-elect Donald Trump on Friday praised Russian President Vladimir Putin for not quickly hitting back at Washington for the punitive measures imposed over alleged interference in the November election.Great move on delay (by V. Putin) - I always knew he was very smart Trump tweeted.Russia’s embassy in Washington quickly retweeted the comment, which Trump pinned so it would appear at the top of his feed for several hours.Trump’s tweet enraged his Democratic foes as well as some members of his own Republican Party.@realDonaldTrump alternates between embracing Russian subversion & downplaying it, but his support for Putin is constant. We must know why, wrote Evan McMullin, who ran as an independent presidential candidate after serving as policy director for the House Republican Conference.Claire McCaskill, a Democrat who serves on the Senate Armed Services Committee, wrote: Our ENTIRE cyber intel community,best in world btw, agrees that this guy tried to mess in our election & the Russians are RT TrumpPutin love.Earlier, the Russian leader ruled out any immediate tit-for-tat expulsions of American officials in the row over what Washington says were efforts to harm US interests in connection with the November 8 election won by the Republican.Putin’s own foreign ministry had recommended that he eject 35 American officials to counterbalance US President Barack Obama’s move on Thursday to expel 35 Russian intelligence operatives and shut down two Russian compounds in the US.RUSSIANS‘PLAYING’ US MEDIA?Trump, who succeeds Obama on January 20, has repeatedly praised Putin and made a number of cabinet picks with ties to Russia.The FBI and CIA have concluded that Russian intelligence agencies oversaw the hacking and leaking of emails from Democratic Party organizations under Kremlin orders this year in order to benefit Trump’s campaign against Hillary Clinton.In the past, the president-elect has ridiculed US intelligence about Russia’s cyber-meddling, saying it was not clear who conducted the attacks.He has long treated such accusations as a thinly veiled effort by a Democratic president to delegitimize a Republican victory.Later Friday, Trump went on to mock two US television networks, apparently over their coverage of the US-Russia jousting, tweeting that Russians are playing @CNN and @NBCNEws for such fools -- funny to watch, they don’t have a clue @FoxNewstotally gets itOn Wednesday, he issued a call for the country to move on to bigger and better things, but said he would meet with US intelligence leaders next week to be updated on the facts of this situation.While Trump has already received intelligence briefings about the election and substantial evidence is in the public sphere, his pledge to meet with intelligence chiefs could provide a face-saving opportunity to further soften his stance.Also next week, Director of National Intelligence James Clapper will appear before lawmakers to testify about foreign cyber threats to the United States -- a possible opportunity for him to expand on Russia’s activities.

Six robbers of two gangs arrested in Lahore

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LAHORE (Daily Dunya) – At least six suspects of two gangs involved in car and motorcycle theft were arrested in Lahore.According to details, 21 cars, 31 motorcycles, 4 kg heroin and illegal weapons were also recovered from the possession of the suspects.Police sources told that Baba gang’s head Sharafat Ali aka Baba and two accomplices Liaquat and Aslam were apprehended whereas Bush Afghani gang’s chief Mohammad Khan and two suspects Khuda-e-Ram and Amanat Ali were also taken into custody.

Batting collapse limits Bangladesh to 236-9

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NELSON (AFP) – Bangladesh suffered another dose of batting blues following a century opening stand by Tamim Iqbal and Imrul Kayes and were restricted to 236-9 in the third one-day international against New Zealand in Nelson on Saturday.Tamim (59) and Imrul (44) cruised past the hundred mark in the 21st over as they laid the base for a competitive total.But when Imrul was caught by a diving Neil Broom it opened the floodgates for the New Zealand bowlers.Only Nurul Hasan offered any resistance further down the order with 44 off 39 deliveries before he was dismissed in the final over.With New Zealand 2-0 up going into the final match of the three-ODI series, Bangladesh were keen to show they could be competitive after losing their last nine wickets for 80 runs in the second match and the last five for 120 in the high-scoring series opener.Playing on the same Saxton Oval wicket where New Zealand won the second game by 67 runs two days ago, Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Mortaza looked to make the most of the flattening pitch by opting to bat first when he won the toss.Tamim and Imrul made light of the bowling as New Zealand mixed pace and spin in trying to get the most out of a wicket being used for the second time in three days.They were eventually rewarded with Broom’s sensational catch to remove Imrul and wickets followed quickly after that.From 102 without loss, Bangladesh fell to 170-6.Mahmudullah’s disappointing tour continued with three to go with his duck and one in the first two games.Tamim appeared to lose patience with the lack of support and lashed out at a good length Jimmy Neesham delivery and Broom took another running catch backward of point.Shakib Al Hasan looked comfortable reaching 18 until he went for a quick single when patting the ball to the leg side.Wicketkeeper Luke Ronchi sprinted from behind the stumps to grab the ball and with a perfect throw he ran out Shakib at the bowler’s end.New Zealand’s six bowlers all shared in the wickets with Matt Henry and Mitchell Santner taking two apiece and one each for Tim Southee, Jeetan Patel, Jimmy Neesham and Kane Williamson.

Kot Momin: 2 kidnappers killed in police encounter

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KOT MOMIN (Dunya News) – An abducted youth was killed in shootout between police and kidnappers in Kot Momin area near Sargodha on Friday, Dunya News reported. Two kidnappers were also killed in encounter.According to details, two alleged kidnappers opened fire at the police party who went to a designated place in Kot Momin area near Sargodha on Friday to pay ransom money to recover a kidnapped youth.Police also opened fire in retaliation, killing both the kidnappers. Police sources said that 18-year-old abducted youth Atif Nazir was also killed by kidnappers firing.Police sources said that the dead kidnappers were identified as Qaisar and Amir and were next door neighbors of Atif Nazir.

Karachi has always, and will always belong to MQM: Farooq Sattar

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KARACHI (Dunya News) - Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Pakistan chief Farooq Sattar said on Friday that Karachi has always, and will always belong to MQM, reported Dunya News.While addressing a rally at Nishtar Park, he said that next Chief Minister (CM) would be from Karachi if census would be held rightly. He also said that Sindh building control authority and West management board should be managed by mayor.Farooq Sattar said they should not be asked for patriotism certificate again and again. He also announced that next rally of MQM Pakistan would be held in January in Hyderabad.On the other hand, MQM Pakistan leader Amir Khan criticised MQM London leaders Wasey Jalil and Babar Ghauri as he held them responsible for the downfall of MQM London.Amir Khan said that they should not be given certificates of traitor by MQM London. Amir Khan also criticised Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP) leader Waseem Aftab.However, things changed all of a sudden when workers of MQM-London manage to enter into the rally and started waving flags of their party.

Mian Saqib Nisar to take oath as new CJP today

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ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) - Justice Mian Saqib Nisar will take oath as Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) today (Saturday). He will replace Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali who retired on Friday, Dunya News reported.President Mamnoon Hussain will administer the oath to him at a ceremony in Islamabad.Justice Mian Saqib Nisar will become the 25th Chief Justice of Pakistan and will remain in office for two years and 17 days. He will retire on January 17, 2019.Justice Mian Saqib Nisar was born on Lahore on January 18, 1954. He did his matriculation from the Cathedral High School, Lahore, graduation from the Government College, Lahore, and bachelor of law from the University of Punjab.He joined legal profession as an advocate in 1980. He was enrolled as an advocate of the High Court in 1982 and as advocate of Supreme Court of Pakistan in 1994. Justice Mian Saqib Nisar was elevated as the Judge of the Lahore High Court on May 22, 1998 and of the Supreme Court of Pakistan on February 18, 2010.

Polish plane makes emergency landing in Prague after bomb threat

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PRAGUE, Czech Republic (AFP) - A Boeing 707 operated by a Polish charter airline on Friday made an emergency landing in Prague after a bomb threat by a passenger who was then detained by police, Czech officials said.A man who threatened to detonate a booby trap... is in the hands of the Czech police, Interior Minister Milan Chovanec told the Czech public television.The man was Polish, just like most passengers, he added but declined to say whether the police had actually found a bomb.Richard Klima, spokesman for Pragues air traffic controllers, told AFP that the Enter Air plane flying from Las Palmas, Spain to Warsaw landed in Prague following the pilots request.Chovanec said about 160 passengers were evacuated from the plane that had landed at a disused old airport next to Pragues Vaclav Havel Airport, and that the situation was safe.He added the passengers would stay the night in Prague pending a thorough check of the plane which could finally leave for Warsaw on Saturday morning.

Karachi: Security plan made for the new year night

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KARACHI (Dunya News) - The security plan was made for the new year night in Karachi and people were banned from swimming at Clifton, reported Dunya News.As the last day of the year 2016 started, SSP South Saqib Ismail told that other roads to sea view would be closed except two roads. Roads would be closed as containers would be placed on them.SSP South told that steps would be taken to maintain law and order. He also warned those who misbehave with families and told that they would be given severe punishments.

Lahore: 175-litre liquor, one kilogram hashish seized

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LAHORE (Dunya News) – Crackdown against drug peddlers continues in Lahore as two accused were taken into custody during police operation in different parts of the city on Friday, Dunya News reported.According to details, Police Post Firdous Market arrested a drug peddler named Azeem and recovered 175 litres of liquor from his possession. Police sources said that the arrested accused also supplies liquor to the other districts of Punjab.In a separate operation, Gawalmandi police arrested a drug peddler named Nasir and recovered one kilogram of hashish from him. Police have also registered a case against him.

Arise 'Sir Andy', 'Sir Mo' as Murray, Farah knighted

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LONDON (AFP) - Wimbledon champion Andy Murray and Olympic gold medallist Mo Farah will each receive a knighthood in the New Year Honours.Murrays knighthood caps a dream season for the Scot, who finished as the year-end world number one for the first time after ending Novak Djokovics long spell at the top.The 29-year-old clinched a second Wimbledon title in July before successfully defending his Olympic singles crown and then winning a first ATP Tour Finals crown to stop Djokovic regaining first place.Murray, previously honoured with an OBE in 2012, became a father for the first time in February and earlier this month was voted the BBC Sports Personality of the Year for a record third time.Obviously it is the highest honour you can get in this country. But I feel like Im too young for something like that, said Murray before the announcement was made on Friday.When I win any award or am presented with anything it is nice because it is recognition for what you have given your life to -- up to now anyway. I am still young and there are still a lot of things that can go wrong. I could still mess up and make mistakes. I am just trying to keep doing what I am doing, working hard and achieving stuff.Farah receives his knighthood after he retained his 5,000 and 10,000 metres titles at the Rio Olympics, becoming the first British track and field athlete to win four Olympic gold medals.The 33-year-old Somalia-born athlete is already a CBE following his double gold at London 2012.Im so happy to be awarded this incredible honour from the country that has been my home since I moved here at the age of eight, Farah said.Looking back at the boy who arrived here from Somalia, not speaking any English, I could never have imagined where I would be today. Its a dream come true.Im so proud to have had the opportunity to race for my country and win gold medals for the British people, who have been my biggest supporters throughout my career.My successes have only been possible because of their support and the commitment, sacrifices and love of my amazing family and the team around me now and over the years.Para-equestrian Lee Pearson is also knighted after adding gold from the Individual Freestyle grade Ib and silver in Dressage to his golds in Beijing and London.The decorated Paralympian already held the MBE, OBE and CBE for services to equestrianism and to disabled sport.Damehoods go to heptathlete Jessica Ennis-Hill and rower Katherine Grainger, who both retired from competitive action following the 2016 Rio Games.Ennis-Hill, who had returned to compete in Rio after becoming a mother, has been made a Dame for services to athletics.The 30-year-old from Sheffield added silver at the 2016 Games to her gold at London, and was already a CBE.Grainger receives her damehood for services to sport and charity, the veteran rower having come out of retirement to compete in Rio, where she won silver in the double sculls alongside Vicky Thornley.

Serena lands in New Zealand ahead of season opener

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AUCKLAND Reuters) - Newly-engaged Serena Williams touched down in Auckland on Friday and quickly made her way to the court to hit some balls ahead of the start of her 2017 season.The 22-times grand slam singles champion announced her engagement on Thursday to Alexis Ohanian, co-founder of the social media company Reddit, who accompanied her to New Zealand for the ASB Classic which starts on Thursday.American Williams, 35, is top seed for the tournament, a warm-up event for the Australian Open grand slam later in January, and she was whisked through a crowded airport, telling reporters she was excited to be in New Zealand for the first time.Its fun to go to new places, the world number two said.Serenas older sister Venus is also competing in Auckland, an event she won in 2015, and said she was delighted to hear about her siblings engagement.Serena said it was unlikely the duo, who have won 14 grand slam doubles titles together, would team up to play in New Zealand.Probably not. I wish, we will see, Serena said.

Clashes erupt near Damascus during fragile Syria truce

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IDLIB (AFP) - A ceasefire was holding across most of Syria on Friday but clashes near Damascus underlined the fragility of the deal brokered by rebel supporter Turkey and key regime ally Russia.The nationwide truce, the first since September, is intended to pave the way for new peace talks in Kazakhstan being organised by Moscow, Ankara and Tehran.The agreement comes a week after Syrian President Bashar al-Assads army recaptured second city Aleppo in a major blow to rebel forces.On the first day of the ceasefire Friday, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported sporadic violence in the Wadi Barada area, where rebels have cut water supplies to Damascus.Observatory director Rami Abdel Rahman said helicopters carried out raids on rebel positions but it was unclear which side had started the clashes.Syrias government had been shelling Wadi Barada before the truce began at midnight as it pushes rebels there to accept a reconciliation deal and leave the area.The forces there include former Al-Qaeda affiliate Fateh al-Sham Front, previously known as Al-Nusra Front, which Syrias government says is excluded from the ceasefire.Opposition figures however say the truce applies to all rebel-held territory, even where Fateh al-Sham is present.Last week, rebels attacked water infrastructure in Wadi Barada and neighbouring Ain al-Fijeh, cutting supplies to the capital.Four million people in Damascus and its suburbs have now been without water for a week, the UN says.The clashes in Wadi Barada were the most serious of several isolated incidents of violence since the truce began.The Observatory reported at least 16 government air strikes across several areas in Hama province in central Syria, but no casualties, but said a person was killed by regime sniper fire in the rebel bastion of Eastern Ghouta near Damascus.In rebel-held Idlib province, however, it was quiet and residents expressed hope for respite from the bloody conflict.I support the ceasefire... and I support its continuation, said 31-year-old Ahmed Astify. Everyone, whether (they are) rebels or regular people, is tired, he added.Mohammed, 28, said: We hope that this will lead to the end of the war.Syrias government and its ally Iran both welcomed the ceasefire deal.Damascus called it a real opportunity to find a political solution to the war, which has killed more than 310,000 people since it began with anti-regime protests in March 2011.Despite being left out of the process, Washington described the truce as positive.Analysts were cautious but said the involvement of Russia, Iran and Turkey could be important.Sam Heller, fellow at The Century Foundation, said there was real interest and urgency from Moscow and Ankara, but expressed doubts about whether Tehran and Damascus were on board.All indications are that Iran and the regime want to continue towards a military conclusion, he said.He said renewed fighting in Wadi Barada or Eastern Ghouta could pose major threats to the truce.Russian President Vladimir Putin said Friday he would now reduce Moscows military contingent in Syria, which has been fighting to bolster the government since last year.But he added Russia would continue to fight terrorism and maintain its support for the government.Turkeys President Recep Tayyip Erdogan also said Ankara would continue the operation it began in August targeting the Islamic State group and Kurdish fighters.Moscow says seven key rebel groups have signed up to the deal, including the powerful Ahrar al-Sham, but the truce excludes jihadist organisations like IS or Fateh al-Sham.But Syrias political opposition and rebels said the truce applied to all parts of the country.The agreement includes a ceasefire in all areas held by the moderate opposition, or by the moderate opposition and elements from Fateh al-Sham, such as Idlib province, said Ahmed Ramadan, a member of the National Coalition opposition body.Despite backing opposite sides in the conflict, Turkey and Russia have worked increasingly closely on Syria, brokering a deal this month to allow the evacuation of tens of thousands of civilians and rebel fighters from Aleppo.They are now pushing for peace talks between Damascus and the rebels to start next month in Kazakhstans capital Astana.UN peace envoy Staffan de Mistura said he hoped the agreement would pave the way for productive talks, but also reiterated he wants negotiations mediated by his office to continue next year.Russia, meanwhile, submitted a draft resolution to the UN Security Council supporting the ceasefire and the planned peace talks and was hoping for a unanimous vote on Saturday.Moscow and Ankara say the Astana talks are meant to supplement UN-backed peace efforts, rather than replace them, and want to involve regional players like Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Jordan.Washington is conspicuously absent from the new process, but Moscow said it hoped to bring US President-elect Donald Trumps administration on board once he takes office in January.

Iraq forces fight muddy street battle against IS in Mosul

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MOSUL (AFP) - Iraqi forces are fighting a muddy street battle against jihadists in southeastern Mosul, facing suicide bombers on the ground and a drone that can drop explosive charges from above.Baghdads forces have overwhelming firepower and numbers in Mosul, but the Islamic State group has a vast city in which to launch ambushes, plant bombs and try to make the battle as slow and costly as possible.More than two months into the operation to retake the city, Iraqi forces have recaptured a large chunk of east Mosul, but IS still holds parts of it as well as all of its western side.In southeastern Mosul, a small explosion sounds behind the front line, sending a member of Iraqs elite Rapid Response Division falling to the mud-covered ground, his legs wounded by shrapnel.Security forces members train assault rifles and machineguns skyward, unleashing a barrage of fire at the small white drone that apparently dropped the explosive device.IS jihadists are flying an observation aircraft that carries a bomb or a grenade, Lieutenant Colonel Hisham Abdulkadhim, the commander of a regiment in the Rapid Response Division, explains.Where it see units, it drops it, Abdulkadhim says.Members of the Rapid Response forces swathe one of their wounded comrades legs in bandages, then cut away the bloodied fatigues from the other, treating it as well.The wounded man lies stoically on a black stretcher as they work, leaving behind a trail of blood when he is carried to an armoured Humvee vehicle for evacuation.A white drone later returns, hovering far overhead.Dont gather together, warns a member of the federal police, which are fighting alongside Rapid Response Division.Iraqi forces also have their own drone, which is periodically sent aloft to scout the path ahead.On the ground, there are far more dangerous threats than the IS drone above: a suicide bomber driving an explosives-rigged vehicle is spotted heading toward Iraqi forces.Members of the security forces sprint for cover behind a dirt barricade and a Humvee mounted with an anti-tank missile launcher prepares to fire.A car bomb tried to get close. We withdrew the units that were covering the front so that the Kornet (missile) system could deal with it, Abdulkadhim says.But the suicide bomber apparently pulls back, and the missile is not fired.The berm behind which security forces took cover is part of a strategy of dividing and then clearing an area as they advance.We divide the area into squares, Abdulkadhim says.They then clear houses, put in place snipers and weapons to deal with car bombs, and move on.A bulldozer painted in a blue and grey camouflage pattern slowly moves through the thick mud that coats the street after recent rain, then scoops up pile after pile of dirt until the street is blocked, protecting forces behind it from suicide bombers prowling the city.When the forces are finished clearing the area, the bulldozer forces a pathway through the berm, moves farther down the street, erects a new barrier, and the process is repeated.This makes for slow going, but provides extra security.Iraqi forces are backed by US-led air strikes and Iraqi aviation units, as well as artillery fire from the ground.Throughout the day, massive rockets shriek over Mosul, sending clouds of dust rising in the distance when they explode.Three of the rockets are mounted on the back of a truck in launch tubes that are raised to point them in the direction of their targets.Security personnel fit fuzes to the tips of the rockets and wires to the other end to ignite them.People clear the area around the truck, mobile phones come out to record, and the rocket is launched, disappearing over the rooftops trailing a tail of flame.Wherever there is a gathering of (IS) terrorist gangs, they give us information about them, says Jassem Abbas, who helped ready the rocket for launch.Then according to the coordinates, we bomb it.

Ban Ki-moon bids farewell to United Nations

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UNITED NATIONS (AFP) - UN Secretary Ban Ki-moon paid an emotional farewell to the United Nations on Friday, wistfully describing his two-term stint at the helm of the global body as something of a fairy tale.I feel a bit like Cinderella. Tomorrow at midnight, everything changes he joked to staff and colleagues as he wrapped up a decade leading the United Nations.Beginning Sunday, former Portuguese prime minister Antonio Guterres, 67, takes over from Ban. Guterres is the first former head of government to lead the UN, succeeding Ban for a five-year term.Ban, in a more serious vein, said it has been a privilege to have been at the head of an organization that endeavored to tamp down global conflict and end suffering -- and said it was an honor to have shared that mission with his co-workers. You should be very proud -- just as I am so very proud to call you my colleagues, the South Korean diplomat said.He added that in his decade at the UN, he has endeavored to never give up. To keep dreaming, to keep believing, and to keep working hard until we achieve progress, he said.Ban added that as UN chief, he also has been guided by a desire to keep the focus on people -- on peoples rights and peoples dignity... and to stand up for those who are left behind. As a first act after leaving the pinnacle of global diplomacy, Ban will ring in the new year at Times Square by formally launching the traditional New Years Eve ball drop, to be attended by hundreds of thousands of revelers.Tomorrow night, on the eve of the New Year, I will be in Times Square for the ball drop -- millions of people will be watching as I lose my job the outgoing UN leader joked.

93 journalists killed in 2016: press watchdog

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BRUSSELS (AFP) - Ninety-three journalists and media staff were killed around the world in the course of their work in 2016, with Iraq and Afghanistan the deadliest countries, the International Federation of Journalists said Friday.The IFJ said the figure, 19 less than in 2015, was for journalists killed in targeted attacks, bomb blasts or caught in the cross-fire. A further 29 died in plane crashes in Colombia and Russia.Any decrease in violence against journalist and media personnel is always welcome but these figures... leave little room for comfort and reinforce hopes for the end of the security crisis in the media sector, IFJ president Philippe Leruth said in a statement.There cannot be impunity for these crimes.The IFJ said among those killed were 15 journalists in Iraq, 13 in Afghanistan, 11 in Mexico, eight in Yemen, six in both Guatemala and in Syria, and five in both India and Pakistan.Regionally the Middle East was deadliest with 30 killings, followed by Asia-Pacific with 28, Latin America with 24, Africa with eight and Europe with three, the watchdog said.

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Dunya TV

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Faisalabad: Old enmity claims three lives

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FAISALABAD (Dunya News) – At least three people were shot dead and two other were wounded in the jurisdiction on Kharianwala police station near Faisalabad on Friday, Dunya News reported.According to details, 40-year-old Ahsan, 25-year-old Rafaqat and 45-year-old Jameel went to Chak No-RB to enquire about health of their friend Shafeeq. They were sitting outside a workshop when their rivals opened fire and killed them on the spot. Two other persons, Arshad and Bashir, were wounded in the firing and were shifted to the hospital. The attackers managed to escape from the scene after the incident.The deceased had killed Imtiaz alias Qari’s brother some two years ago. SP Jaranwala has termed the incident a case of old enmity.

Bad weather forces Lahore-bound flight to land in Multan

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MULTAN (Dunya News) – Thick fog and poor visibility in Lahore has forced a private airlines flight from Abu Dhabi to Lahore to land at the Multan International Airport, Dunya News reported on Friday.All the 148 passengers coming to Lahore from Abu Dhabi were off loaded at the Multan airport and shifted to the airport lounge.According to Multan airport management, the affected passengers will now leave for Lahore by buses for which the arrangements have been finalized.

Pakistan in trouble after Aussie declaration

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MELBOURNE (AFP) - Australia grabbed an early wicket to have Pakistan under pressure to save the second Test after a bold declaration on the final day in Melbourne on Friday.Skipper Steve Smith revived hopes of achieving a result in the rain-disrupted Test with a declaration shortly before lunch.He called a halt to a massive first innings at 624 for eight -- remaining unbeaten on 165 off 246 balls -- giving his fast bowlers the use of the new ball just before the interval.The tactic paid immediate dividends with Josh Hazlewood bowling Sami Aslam off a bottom edge for two in the second over of the innings.At lunch, Pakistan were six for one with first-innings double-centurion Azhar Ali on one and Babar Azam on three.The decision to declare the Australian first innings was accelerated by a big-hitting knock of 84 off 91 balls from fast bowler Mitchell Starc.Starc clubbed seven sixes, the most in an innings in a Melbourne Test, and was particularly severe on Yasir Shah, belting the leg-spinner for five sixes.He reached his eighth Test half-century and second fifty this season off 69 balls before he was given a reprieve on 51.Starc skied spinner Azhar Ali to long-off where Sohail Khan made a hash of the catch, fumbling the two-handed chance.He took to Azhar hoicking him for successive sixes to race to 70.Starc hit another towering six off Yasir before he was finally out caught by Asad Shafiq at backward square leg.His seven sixes surpassed the record in an innings in a Melbourne Test held by Andrew Symonds with six in his 72 against South Africa in 2005.Starc put on 154 runs for the seventh wicket with Smith off 172 balls and upon Nathan Lyons dismissal, caught and bowled by Yasir for 12, Smith declared the innings and raced from the ground.It was Smiths 17th Test century and fourth for the year and he will finish 2016 with 1,079 runs at 71.93.Australia lead the three-Test series 1-0 after beating Pakistan by 39 runs in the Gabba Test.

Australia declare on 624-8, lead Pakistan by 181 run

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MELBOURNE (AFP) - Skipper Steve Smith declared Australias first innings at 624 for eight to lead Pakistan by 181 runs on the final day of the second Melbourne Test on Friday.Smith was unbeaten on 165 with Mitchell Starc hitting 84 off 91 balls to set up the declaration.The declaration came 18 minutes before lunch to give the Australians a minimum of 70 overs to achieve a result in the rain-disrupted Test.Starc hammered seven sixes, the most in an innings of a Melbourne Test, and was particularly severe on Yasir Shah, clubbing the leg-spinner for five sixes.Shah finished with figures of three for 207 off 41 overs.

Syria truce begins under deal backed by Russia, Turkey

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DAMASCUS (AFP) - A nationwide ceasefire in Syria brokered by Russia and Turkey took effect at midnight (2200 GMT), in a potentially major breakthrough in the conflict of more than five years.The deal, which does not include designated terrorists like the Islamic State group, was announced hours earlier by Russian President Vladimir Putin and confirmed by the Syrian army and opposition.The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said there had been total calm since the start of the ceasefire in many provinces all over Syria adding that no violations were monitored in all regions.According to an AFP correspondent in Eastern Ghouta, the shelling and airstrikes stopped from more than one hour in the region after intensive shelling and raids on Thursday.AFP correspondents in Damascus and Idlib said there had been no sound of shelling, airstrikes or clashes since midnight.The agreement, hailed by Syrias government as a real opportunity to find a political solution to the war, comes a week after the regime recaptured second city Aleppo in a major blow to rebel forces.The deal was brokered by Russia and Turkey, which back opposing sides in the conflict, but does not involve Washington, which has negotiated previous ceasefires with Moscow.Putin said Damascus and the main forces of the armed opposition had inked a truce and a document expressing a readiness to start peace talks.Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan described the agreement as a historic opportunity to end the Syrian conflict, which has killed more than 310,000 people and forced millions from their homes.Putin said he would also reduce Moscows military contingent in Syria that has been flying a bombing campaign in support of President Bashar al-Assad since last year.The Kremlin strongman, however, said Russia would continue to fight terrorism in Syria and maintain its support for the regime.Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said seven opposition groups, including the powerful Ahrar al-Sham, had signed the deal and those who failed to adhere would be considered terrorists.Erdogan indicated Turkey would press on with its four-month incursion into Syria against Islamic State group jihadists and Kurdish militia.Syrias army said the deal did not include IS and the former Al-Qaeda affiliate Al-Nusra Front, now rebranded the Fateh al-Sham Front.That could cause complications in areas like Idlib in northwestern Syria, where Fateh al-Sham is allied with rebel groups that have signed on to the deal.Syrias political opposition and rebels had confirmed their backing for the truce, saying it applied to all parts of the country.The agreement is for all of Syria and contains no exceptions or preconditions, said Osama Abou Zeid, a legal adviser to rebel groups fighting under the Free Syrian Army banner.The agreement comes after Turkey and Russia brokered a deal to allow the evacuation of tens of thousands of civilians and rebel fighters from Aleppo.Moscow and Ankara are now pushing for peace talks between Damascus and the rebels to start soon in Kazakhstans capital Astana.Now we need to do everything for these agreements to come into force, for them to work, so that the negotiating teams that have been or are being formed promptly and as soon as possible arrive in Astana, Putin said.UN peace envoy Staffan de Mistura said he hoped the agreement would pave the way for productive talks in Kazakhstan, but also reiterated he wants negotiations mediated by his office to continue early next year.Russia and Turkey have both said the peace talks they will supervise are meant to supplement UN-backed peace efforts, rather than replace them entirely. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that Russia, Turkey and Iran were arranging for the talks and pressing for other key international players to get involved.Lavrov said Moscow would invite Egypt and try to attract other regional powers such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Iraq and Jordan.He added Moscow would seek to involve US President-elect Donald Trumps administration once he takes office in less than a month, but the process does not appear to involve outgoing President Barack Obamas administration.The US State Department called the ceasefire deal a positive development and said it hoped it would lead to fresh negotiations on Syrias political future.Abou Zeid confirmed the truce deal was intended to pave the way for new talks in Astana, with the High Negotiations Committee that has represented the opposition at previous negotiations expected to participate.Turkey has long backed Syrias opposition, and its relations with Russia soured last year after Ankara shot down a Russian warplane.But the two countries have worked closely of late on Syria, and Turkey was conspicuously quiet as Assads forces retook Aleppo.

Obama hits Russia for election meddling

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WASHINGTON (AFP) - President Barack Obama on Thursday unleashed a barrage of retaliatory measures against Moscow for meddling in the US election, imposing sanctions on two intelligence agencies, expelling 35 agents and shuttering two Russian compounds inside the United States.Making good on a promise to punish Vladimir Putins government for allegedly trying to tilt the 2016 election in Donald Trumps favor, Obama unveiled a broad range of steps that will inflame tensions with both Moscow and the president-elect.US intelligence had concluded that a hack-and-release of Democratic Party and Hillary Clinton staff emails was ordered by the Kremlin and was designed to put the Republican real estate mogul in the Oval Office.I have ordered a number of actions in response to the Russian governments aggressive harassment of US officials and cyber operations aimed at the US election, Obama said in a statement.In response to the hacks -- dubbed Grizzly Steppe by US officials -- Obama announced sanctions against Russias military intelligence agency, known as GRU, and the FSB -- the rump what was once the KGB.Trump said while he believes the US should move on to bigger and better things, he would meet with intelligence leaders next week for a briefing on the situation.The 35 Russian intelligence operatives -- based at the Russian embassy in Washington and the consulate in San Francisco -- have been declared persona non grata and ordered to leave the country within 72 hours.US officials also moved to close two Russian compounds in New York and Maryland.The latter facility, a summer house a short drive from the US capital, was once featured in a Washington lifestyle magazine and was described as a stately house surrounded by lush gardens on the banks of the Chester River, with an impressive collection of German and Hungarian porcelains.The US government said it is now used for intelligence-related purposes.Obama warned of further covert actions.These actions are not the sum total of our response to Russias aggressive activities. We will continue to take a variety of actions at a time and place of our choosing, some of which will not be publicized, he said.These actions follow repeated private and public warnings that we have issued to the Russian government, and are a necessary and appropriate response to efforts to harm US interests in violation of established international norms of behavior.Those warnings, officials said, included a personal message from Obama to Putin when the two leaders met briefly in Hangzhou, China last September.Moscow quickly rejected US accusations of cyber-interference as unfounded and vowed to retaliate.Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov accused the Obama administration of trying to definitively destroy US-Russia relations which have already reached a low.He said Moscow would react in an adequate manner based on the principles of reciprocity.Trump has questioned whether Russia really tipped the electoral scale, painting Obamas accusations as a thinly veiled effort by a Democratic president to delegitimize a Republican victory. After the sanctions were imposed, Trump called on the country to move on to bigger and better things but offered a conciliatory pledge to meet next week with US spy chiefs he has harshly criticized.Obama said pointedly stated on Thursday that all Americans should be alarmed by Russias actions. The timing of his actions leave Trump and Moscow in a difficult position.Any attempt by the mogul-turned-politico to reverse Obamas sanctions once he takes office on January 20 would be widely seen as condoning Russian interference. That proposition was made even more difficult by Obamas decision to also link the sanctions to harassment of US diplomats in Moscow, which Washington described as unprecedented in the post-Cold War era.These are executive actions, said a senior Obama administration official.So if a future president decided that he wanted to allow in a large tranche of Russian intelligence agents, presumably a future president could invite that action. We think it would be inadvisable.Trumps fellow Republicans are also limiting his room for maneuver, increasingly distancing themselves from his pro-Russian stance.House Speaker Paul Ryan issued a statement welcoming the sanctions as overdue. Russia does not share Americas interests. In fact, it has consistently sought to undermine them, he said.Senior lawmakers on both sides of the political aisle have called for a congressional probe into Russias actions. Obama said Congress would receive a report in the coming days about Russias cyber-meddling.Obamas actions will also force Putin to weigh harsh retaliatory steps and the chance it could endanger an expected cooling of tensions under Trump.Relations between Washington and Moscow are at their worst since the end of the Cold War, and Obama had previously imposed sanctions over Russias interventions in Syria and Ukraine.US officials played down the impact that sanctions against the GRU and the FSB could have on intelligence-sharing on issues like counterterrorism, saying the cooperation was already limited.Both agencies will face sanctions, along with four individual GRU officers including agency chief Igor Valentinovich Korobov and three other entities.In addition, the US Treasury slapped sanctions on two individuals, Evgeniy Mikhailovich Bogachev and Aleksey Alekseyevich Belan, for involvement in malicious cyber-enabled activities.The sanctions freeze any assets they may have in the United States and blocks US companies from doing business with them.The US government is also declassifying technical information on Russian cyber activity to help companies defend against future attacks.The United States and friends and allies around the world must work together to oppose Russias efforts to undermine established international norms of behavior and interfere with democratic governance, Obama said.That reflects growing concerns that Russia could target upcoming elections in France, Germany and the Netherlands.

Iraq forces launch new assault on IS in Mosul

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BAGHDAD (AFP) - Iraqi forces advanced Thursday after declaring a new phase in their offensive on eastern Mosul, stepping up efforts to reclaim the Islamic State groups last major stronghold in the country.Elite forces have reconquered several parts of eastern Mosul since beginning the massive operation to recapture the northern city from the jihadists on October 17, but IS still occupies the citys west.Security chiefs said several neighbourhoods had been taken, with the bodies of IS fighters seen lying on the streets and drone footage showing others retreating.Retaking Mosul could effectively end the jihadist groups days as a land-holding force in Iraq and deal a death blow to the caliphate IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi proclaimed in the city in June 2014.The second phase of liberating the left bank in Mosul was launched, and our forces began advancing toward Al-Quds neighbourhood, said Staff Lieutenant General Abdulghani al-Assadi, a senior officer in Iraqs Counter-Terrorism Service. Our forces clashed with the enemy and there is resistance, he told AFP, adding forces on the northern and southern fronts were also advancing.Mosul, now the last Iraqi city in which IS still holds significant territory, is split by the Tigris River, with the east side referred to as the left bank and the west as the right.Iraqs federal police commander, Raed Shaker Jawdat, said the enemys line of defence has fallen back inside the city.The streets of the Al-Salam, Al-Intisar, Al-Wahda, Al-Falestin and Al-Quds neighbourhoods are strewn with the bodies of Daesh fighters, he said, using an Arabic acronym for IS.Police had also entered deep into the district of Jadida al-Mufti.The commanding chief of the offensive, Staff Lieutenant General Abdulamir Yarallah, late Thursday announced the liberation of the Al-Quds 1 district.The commander said police drones had spotted IS fighters retreating to the citys western side via a pedestrian bridge badly damaged in the fighting.Centcom, the US military command in the Middle East, said the US-led coalition fighting IS had disabled the last bridge crossing the Tigris river inside Mosul this week at the Iraqi governments request.It said meanwhile that an investigation had been opened after a US-led air raid on an IS van during the Mosul operations on Thursday struck what was later determined to be a hospital compound parking lot resulting in possible civilian casualties.A Mosul inhabitant who requested anonymity reported hearing many explosions and said residents were holed up indoors.The new push in the battle for Mosul comes after progress slowed to a crawl in the past few weeks.After two months of fighting, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi last week said the army had decided to review battle plans and pause to reduce losses.The fighting has been all the more devastating as it has been happening in a city amid civilians.IS has targeted the army with car bombs on at least 900 occasions in the streets of Mosul since October 17, according to Abadi.IS overran large areas north and west of Baghdad in 2014, but Iraqi forces backed by US-led air strikes have since regained much of the territory they lost to the jihadists.Abadi had pledged that Mosul would be recaptured by years end -- a goal that is now out of reach, as operations in western Mosul have yet to begin.The Iraqi prime minister also said this week that three months were needed to eliminate IS in the country.High-ranking officials believe the battle against IS could drag on, and the Sunni Muslim extremist group continues to carry out attacks in areas from which it had been dislodged by the government offensive.Last week, an IS triple car bombing on a market in Gogjali a few kilometres (miles) east of Mosul killed at least 23 people.The army had retaken Gogjali from the jihadists in early November after more than two years of IS occupation.

Nobel laureates urge UN to intervene in Myanmar's Rohingya crisis

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UNITED NATIONS (AFP) - More than a dozen Nobel laureates on Thursday urged the United Nations to end the human crisis of Myanmars Rohingya minority group, whose members have been fleeing to Bangladesh to escape a bloody military crackdown.In an open letter addressed to the UN Security Council, 23 Nobel laureates, politicians, philanthropists and activists said a human tragedy amounting to ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity is unfolding in Myanmar.They also criticized the countrys leader Aung San Suu Kyi -- herself a Nobel Peace Prize winner -- for what they called a lack of initiative to protect the Rohingyas.We are frustrated that she has not taken any initiative to ensure full and equal citizenship rights of the Rohingyas, the group wrote.In recent weeks, more than 27,000 people belonging to the persecuted Muslim minority -- a group loathed by many of Myanmars Buddhist majority -- have fled a Burmese military operation in Rakhine state launched in response to the attack of border posts by armed groups. Rohingya survivors say they suffered rape, murder and arson at the hands of soldiers -- accounts that have raised global alarm and galvanized protests around Southeast Asia.Bangladeshs government has been under pressure to open its border to the fleeing refugees, but it has reinforced its border posts and deployed coastguard ships to prevent fresh arrivals.The Rohingyas are among the worlds most persecuted minorities, who for decades have been subjected to a campaign of marginalization and dehumanization, said the authors -- among them peace prize winners Desmond Tutu, Shirin Ebadi and Jose Ramos-Horta.They asked the 15-member Security Council to add the crisis to its agenda as a matter of urgency, and to call upon the secretary-general to visit Myanmar in the coming weeks -- either current UN chief Ban Ki-moon, or his successor Antonio Guterres, who will take over the post next month.If we fail to take action, people may starve to death if they are not killed with bullets, and we may end up being the passive observers of crimes against humanity which will lead us once again to wring our hands belatedly and say never again all over again, the letter said.The Rohingya have languished under years of dire poverty and discrimination from a government that denies them citizenship. The UN and other rights groups have repeatedly called on Myanmar to grant them full rights.

50,000 Rohingya flee to Bangladesh from Myanmar: government

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DHAKA (AFP) - Some 50,000 Rohingya Muslims have fled to Bangladesh from Myanmar, the foreign ministry in Dhaka said Thursday, seeking shelter from a bloody crackdown by the army.Bangladesh has stepped up patrols to try to stem the tide of refugees crossing the border since an eruption of unrest in Myanmars western state of Rakhine in early October.The foreign ministry summoned Myanmars ambassador to express deep concern at the continued influx of tens of thousands of members of the stateless ethnic minority into its territory.We mentioned that around 50,000 Myanmar citizens took shelter into Bangladesh since 09 October 2016, the ministry said in a statement.Rakhine borders Bangladesh and is home to the Rohingya -- a Muslim minority group loathed by many of Myanmars Buddhist majority.Dhaka also demanded early repatriation of all Burmese citizens who have been living in the Muslim-majority nation for years, including some 300,000 Rohingya -- most of them illegally.A spokesman for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) told AFP that at least 43,000 Rohingya have taken shelter in Bangladesh since October.The vast majority of those who arrived took refuge in makeshift settlements, official refugee camps and villages in Bangladeshs resort district of Coxs Bazar.Many of those interviewed by AFP told horrific stories of gang-rape, torture and murder at the hands of Myanmar security forces.Myanmar has denied allegations of abuse but has banned foreign journalists and independent investigators from accessing the area.Bangladeshs government has been under pressure to open its border to the fleeing refugees, in a crisis which has been described as a campaign of ethnic cleansing against the Rohingya.But it has reinforced its border posts and deployed coastguard ships to prevent fresh arrivals.In the past three months, its border guards have prevented hundreds of boats packed with thousands of Rohingya women and children from entering the country.

Floods in DR Congo kill at least 50: provincial governor

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KINSHASA (AFP) - Floods triggered by heavy rains and a river bursting its banks have killed at least 50 people and left thousands more homeless in southwestern Congo, a provincial governor said Thursday.Torrential rains caused the Kalamu river, which flows through the city of Boma into the River Congo, to overflow for two hours before the waters receded, washing some of the victims across the border into Angola.The waters left parts of the city, Democratic Republic of Congos sole Atlantic port, covered in up to a metre of mud and a search was under way to dig out more bodies that may be buried.The rains on the night of Monday to Tuesday in Boma have caused at least 50 deaths, Jacques Mbadu, governor of Kongo Central province told AFP.We buried 31 bodies on Wednesday and we expect to get about 20 more bodies back today that ended up across the border in Angola, Mbadu added.Mbadu said the waters hit a peak of two metres (six feet) above their usual level, destroying at least 500 homes and leaving several thousand people homeless.Boma, which lies near the mouth of the River Congo around 470 kilometres (300 miles) southwest of the capital Kinshasa, is home to between 150,000 and 200,000 people. This is a cyclical phenomenon which happens every 10 years. It last happened in January 2015 but with climate change its now happened again in December 2016, Mbadu said.Locals told AFP that two of the citys three districts were still covered in mud, up to a metre deep in some places, and described tragic scenes as the waters rushed dramatically into their houses.I lost my two children, carried off by the waters, which rose up to three metres like a tsunami. I could only watch them as they were washed away, Faustin Lutete, a government employee, said.Fisherman Jean-Marie Kola said he just had time to run far away, as our house was showing signs of fragility. It collapsed later.Shopkeeper Camille Inonga said he had lost everything in the flash floods.My shop is covered in mud. I cant get in there. This is a whole life gone up in smoke, he said. Provincial governor Mbadu said the authorities were encouraging those left homeless by the floods to seek shelter with relatives to avoid creating more problems, rather than putting them in reception centres.He said he had been working with a Dutch company to divert the waters of the Congo river, whose enormous flow puts pressure on the Kalamu, to try to prevent these floods happening again.Congolese towns and cities are typically built up in a haphazard fashion and government services to deal with natural disasters are practically non-existent.Floods in Kinshasa in December 2015 left more than 30 people dead and 20,000 families homeless, most of them in the capitals slums, where residents were left to battle with their bare hands through noxious mud, slime and fecal matter.Despite its vast mineral wealth, Congo is classed among the worlds poorest countries and two thirds of its 70 million inhabitants get by on less than $1.25 a day.

Bangladesh bowler reprimanded for swearing

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NELSON (AFP) - Bangladesh bowler Tanveer Haider has been officially reprimanded by the International Cricket Council (ICC) for swearing at New Zealand batsman Neil Broom during the second one day cricket international in Nelson on Thursday. The incident happened on the last ball of the 19th over when Tanveer, after being hit for a four, used obscene language which was heard by the umpires.Tanveer, who was making his ODI debut, admitted swearing and there was no need for a formal hearing, the ICC said in a statement. Broom was on 15 at the time and went on to score 109 not out to anchor New Zealands innings of 251.New Zealand won the match by 67 runs to take a 2-0 lead in the three-match series.Tanveer was found to have breached Article 2.1.4 of the Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to using language or a gesture that is obscene, offensive or insulting during an International Match.In addition to the reprimand for his breach of Article 2.1.4, one demerit point has been added to Tanveers disciplinary record.Pursuant to Article 7.6 of the Code, if Tanveer reaches four or more demerit points within a 24-month period, they will be converted into suspension points and he will be banned. Two suspension points equate to a ban from one test or two ODIs or two T20Is, whatever comes first for the player.

Azhar Ali OK after heavy blow to head

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MELBOURNE (Agencies) - Pakistan double-century hero Azhar Ali, felled by a sickening blow to the head in the field on Thursday, has been cleared of concussion.Australian team doctor Peter Brukner put Azhar through a test after he was hit flush in the top of the helmet by a Matthew Wade pull shot as he fielded at short leg on day four at the MCG. The bowler at the time was leg-spinner Yasir Shah.Azhars teammates and the team physiotherapist rushed to him as he lay on the field. Play was temporarily stopped but Azhar was able to walk from the field with a broken helmet.Pakistan bowling coach Azhar Mahmood said Azhar had been cleared to return to play on Friday.He is fine, Mahmood said after play on Thursday.Concussion has become a growing issue in cricket, with Cricket Australia - like all governing bodies - strengthening its rules.Wades shot had ricocheted off Azhar to Babar Azam, who caught it on the full, but Wade was not out as crickets rules currently say a batsman cannot be dismissed if the ball has rebounded off a protective helmet. But that may change if a recommendation from the MCCs world cricket committee is endorsed, calling for catches and stumpings to be allowed if the ball has hit a helmet worn by a fielder.Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting, who is part of the MCC world cricket committee, said this month it was time to have greater consistency in terms of dismissals when a ball has hit protective equipment.Wicketkeepers wear pads on the outside of their legs, which is an optional form of protection. We felt that it was not really different from a close-in fielder wearing a helmet, he said.A lot of the associations are now making it compulsory for the close-in fielders to wear helmets. Just to keep in line with other protective equipment on other fielders on the ground, we felt that was the right way to go.It has also emerged Yasir and Azhar had undergone routine anti-doping tests on Wednesday by the International Cricket Council, with results to be released in a fortnight. Yasir was charged in December 2015 with an anti-doping rule violation after he tested positive for a prohibited substance. He was handed a three-month suspension by the ICC after he pleaded guilty to breaching the ICCs anti-doping code.

Gillespie named Australia T20 assistant coach

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SYDNEY (AFP) - Former Test fast bowler Jason Gillespie was Thursday appointed as Australia assistant coach for the three Twenty20 internationals against Sri Lanka in February.Cricket Australia said Gillespie will work with Justin Langer, who was confirmed as coach for the series earlier this month.They will step in for head coach Darren Lehmann and his assistant David Saker, who will be with the Test squad for the tour of India over the same period.Apart from his work with the Adelaide Strikers in the T20 Big Bash League, Gillespie spent five successful years as head coach of English county Yorkshire.Im just buzzing to get this role. It really is an exciting opportunity and Im humbled to be thought of by Cricket Australia in this regard, Gillespie said.With some players likely to be away in India it really will be a shop window for players from the BBL to showcase their skills and to show the selectors and the Australian public what they can do.Gillespie took 259 wickets in 71 Tests as well as 142 wickets in 97 ODIs.The T20s between Australia and Sri Lanka will take place at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on February 17, Geelong on February 19 and the Adelaide Oval on February 22.

Real Madrid lose Vazquez, Kovacic to injury

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MADRID: (AFP) - Real Madrid will be without midfielders Lucas Vazquez and Mateo Kovacic when the team returns to action in 2017 after picking up injuries in their successful Club World Cup campaign.Vazquez suffered a right leg injury in the 4-2 final win over Kashima Antlers in Japan and will be sidelined for up to four weeks, according to Spanish sports daily As.He is likely to miss the Spanish Cup last-16 game against Sevilla on January 4 and 12 as well as three La Liga matches.Croatian midfielder Kovacic will miss the first leg of the cup clash with Sevilla with a leg ankle knock also picked up in the tournament in Japan.

MQM-Pakistan set for Nishtar Park power show today

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KARACHI (Dunya News) - Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan (MQM-Pakistan) is all set to exhibit its power show today as the party is going to held its first congregational meeting at Nishtar Park Karachi, reported Dunya News.The environemnt at Nishtar Park was lively and jubilant a day before the meeting as the venue revealed an eby the onlookers.All the refreshments and amusements for the visitors could easily be seen at the venue with women, and children enjoying themselves at different stalls being set up for the purpose.Face painting and food stalls at different locations added to the elegance and beauty of the location.However, something really strange was observed when the songs played at the function were basically the song of MQM-London and that is why questions have been raised as if MQM’s founder story has ended or not.MQM-Pakistan leader Farooq Sattar revealed that today we will silent all those who used to talk a lot.

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