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Saturday, January 25, 2014

Dunya TV

Dunya TV

56 accused held in Karachi operation

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KARACHI (Dunya News) – According to details, police conducted raid in different parts of Landhi after the killing of six police officials in the area and arrested 26 suspects.The area was sealed before the raid and police launched a house-to-house search.In a separate development, police conducted a targeted operation in Qayyumabad area and rounded up 30 suspects.

Seven cops among 19 killed in Karachi violence

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KARACHI (Dunya News) – Despite on-going police operation in Karachi bloodbath could not be controlled and at least nine people have been killed in different incidents of violence in the past 24 hours.At least six police officials were martyred and two others were injured when two police vehicles came under attack in Landhi 6 and Landhi 3 on Saturday night.As per details, three policemen were killed in a hand grenade attack on one police mobile, outside house of MQM-H chief Afaq Ahmad in Landhi No-6.According to police, some unknown motorbike riding attackers hurled a hand grenade at the police mobile, stationed for guard duty outside house of Afaq Ahmad, and fled away from the scene, leaving three police officials dead.Later on, the motorbike riding miscreants opened indiscriminate fire at a second police mobile in Landhi No-3 and escaped uninterrupted, leaving three policemen martyred at the scene.Injured were shifted to Jinnah Hospital in reportedly critical condition.Meanwhile, Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) MPA Muhammad Kamran Farooqi came under attack when unknown gunmen opened fire on his car in North Karachi.Farooqi escaped the attack unhurt, however, his personal guard sustained wounds.Some unidentified motorbike riders gunned down ASI Sabir of Muhafiz Force in Sarjani. Police rushed to the site and recovered four shells of a 9mm pistol, starting an official investigation. ASI Sabir was a key figure in Karachi operation against target killers. Another 2 hands-tied bodies were recovered from under Lasbela Bridge. In New Karachi Industrial area, factory manager Mansoor got killed by pistol of security guard. SSP Central Aamir Farooqi said that murder weapon was recovered after arresting security guard and nephew of factory owner.Another man was gunned down at Urdu chowk when unidentified men opened fire. A local office-bearer of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Ayaz Ahmad and an 8-year-old boy were gunned down near Sindhi Hotel. Another man died by firing at Lyari Khadda market. In another separate incident, a woman’s body was recovered from a house at north Karachi.

Clashes kill 29 as Egypt marks 2011 uprising

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CAIRO (AFP) - At least 29 people were killed in clashes in Egypt Saturday during rival rallies on the anniversary of the 2011 revolt that toppled Hosni Mubarak, underscoring the country's violent polarisation.Three years after Egyptians rose up to demand the overthrow of Mubarak, thousands of demonstrators in Cairo's Tahrir Square chanted slogans backing another military man, General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, as police clashed with Islamists and activists elsewhere.The 29 people were killed in fighting across Egypt when police and supporters of the military-installed government clashed with Islamist backers of president Mohamed Morsi, who was deposed in July after a single turbulent year in power.Egypt was already on edge after four bombs exploded in Cairo on Friday, including a massive blast outside police headquarters. The attacks, which were claimed by a Sinai-based extremist group, killed six people.Hours before Saturday's rallies, a small bomb outside a police training centre in north Cairo wounded one person, while another 16 were wounded when a car bomb exploded beside a police base in the canal city of Suez, according to the health ministry.Ansar Beit al-Maqdis, an Al-Qaeda-inspired group, claimed Friday's bombings, all of which targeted police, and urged Egyptian Muslims to stay away from police buildings.Security forces across Cairo moved quickly to disperse scattered pro-Morsi protests while welcoming demonstrators to sanctioned commemorations.In the Muhandiseen district, police fired tear gas and birdshot at anti-government protesters outside a mosque, scattering them into side streets.Gunfire could be heard late into the night in the Alf Maskan neighbourhood, where some of Saturday's deadliest fighting took place, a witness said.Of the 29 people killed, 26 died in Cairo and its suburbs, health ministry spokesman Ahmed Kamel told AFP. Another 168 people were wounded, and police said 725 suspected protesters were arrested.One of the dead in Cairo was a member of the April 6 movement which spearheaded the uprising against Mubarak and had also opposed Morsi, a member of the group told AFP.The regime has substantial and now energised support, a majority of the politically active citizens of this country, said Michael Hanna, an expert on Egypt with The Century Foundation, a US-based think tank.But there are still resilient sources of opposition that they are choosing to deal with violently.Police, who have killed hundreds of Islamist protesters in street clashes since Morsi's overthrow, have vowed to halt all such demonstrations.But they encouraged Egyptians to turn out in support of the government, and some politicians called for rallies to back Sisi, the general who overthrew Morsi and whose popularity has skyrocketed among Egyptians craving stability after three years of turmoil.The Islamist Anti-Coup Alliance which backs Morsi also urged its supporters in a statement to continue their revolutionary movement on Sunday in Cairo and other provinces.

Iraq violence kills 19 as January toll tops 800

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BAGHDAD (AFP) - Shelling and bombings across Iraq killed 19 people on Saturday as militants blew up a key bridge linking the capital to the north, the latest in a surge of violence.The bloodshed, which pushed the death toll for January to more than 800, comes in the run-up to a general election scheduled for April 30, and has stoked fears Iraq is slipping back into all-out conflict.Faced with a weeks-long standoff in Anbar province, west of Baghdad, and Iraqs worst protracted unrest since 2008, authorities have been urged by foreign leaders to pursue political reconciliation in a bid to undercut support for militants.But Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki has taken a hard line with a view to the looming election, and officials have trumpeted security operations.Shelling began late on Friday in the south Fallujah neighbourhood of Nazal and continued into the early hours of Saturday, killing eight people, including a young child, and wounding seven, said Doctor Ahmed Shami of the citys main hospital.Residents of the city on Baghdads doorstep blame the army for the shelling. Defence officials insist the military is not responsible.Near Anbar provincial capital Ramadi farther west, security officials said they killed 20 militants in the Albu Faraj area, state television reported.Fallujah and parts of Ramadi have been in the hands of anti-government fighters for weeks, some of them from the Al-Qaeda-linked Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).It is the first time militants have exercised such open control in Iraqi cities since the peak of the violence that followed the 2003 US-led invasion.Fighting erupted in the Ramadi area on December 30, when security forces cleared a year-old Sunni Arab protest camp.The violence then spread to Fallujah, as militants moved in and seized the city and parts of Ramadi after security forces withdrew.The government says it is fighting Al-Qaeda while Fallujah residents and tribal sheikhs have said ISIL has tightened its grip on the city. But other militant groups and anti-government tribes have also been involved in battling government forces in Anbar.The protracted standoff has prompted more than 140,000 people to flee their homes, the UN refugee agency said on Friday, with its spokesman Peter Kessler describing it as the worst displacement in Iraq since the 2006-08 sectarian conflict.Violence also struck in the capital, and north of Baghdad on Saturday.A mortar attack in Jaizan, a Shiite village just north of the confessionally-mixed city of Baquba, killed six people and wounded two, security and medical officials said.Among the dead were two women and a young boy.Baquba is the capital of Diyala province, which has a Sunni majority but substantial Shiite Arab and Kurdish populations. The province remains one of Iraqs least stable and is the site of frequent violence.Car bombs in two Sunni-majority neighbourhoods of Baghdad killed one person and wounded more than a dozen, while four people were killed in three different attacks in the main northern city of Mosul.Militants also bombed a bridge north of the capital on a key highway to the northern oil city of Kirkuk and the autonomous Kurdistan region beyond, officials said.The blast completely destroyed a 20-metre (yard) section of the bridge and five people were wounded when their car careened off it immediately after the explosion.

Iran says nuclear talks to resume next month

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TEHRAN (AFP) - Irans Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said Saturday that talks with world powers on reaching a long-term nuclear deal will resume next month.An interim six-month accord with the so-called P51 -- the United States, Britain, France, Russia and China plus Germany -- was agreed in November and took effect on Monday.That deal requires that Tehran freeze or curb its nuclear activities for six months in exchange for some sanctions relief while the two sides try to reach a comprehensive agreement.Zarif said he had agreed with EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton to hold the first meeting of Iran and (the) P51 at the end of (the) Iranian month of Bahman which ends on February 19.We wanted to hold the meeting earlier but our Chinese friends were not ready due to holidays of their new year on January 31, he wrote on his Facebook pageZarif, who is at the World Economic Forum in the Swiss ski resort of Davos, did not say where the talks would be held, or when the resumption was agreed with Ashton, who represents the P51 in the negotiations.Under the interim agreement reached in Geneva, Iran committed to limit its uranium enrichment to five percent, halting production of 20 percent-enriched uranium.Medium-enriched uranium is of particular concern to the international community since it can easily be purified to weapons-grade levels.In return for curtailing its enrichment activities, the European Union and the United States have eased crippling economic sanctions on Iran.The West and Israel suspect Irans nuclear ambitions include developing a military capability, an allegation denied by Tehran, which says its atomic activities are entirely peaceful.Neither the United States nor its staunch Middle East ally Israel -- widely assumed to be the regions sole nuclear-armed power -- have ruled out military action against Irans nuclear facilities.

Three killed in mall shooting near US capital: police

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COLUMBIA (AFP) - Three people died Saturday in a shooting at a shopping mall popular with young families in a suburb of the US capital, authorities said Saturday, as they searched for a motive and possibly more victims.Police said the suspected perpetrator was believed to be among the fatalities at the Columbia Mall, where panicked shoppers scrambled to find shelter at the sound of gunshots.Right now, we think that one of the deceased is, in fact, the shooter, Marylands Howard County Police Chief Bill McMahon told reporters.He said SWAT teams were currently inside the shopping center to make sure there are no more victims.McMahon could not immediately provide details on the identities of the dead or on a possible motive, saying only that three victims were found at an upper level store.Howard County General Hospital said it was treating a victim who, according to a police tweet, suffered a gunshot wound to foot.We are still trying to secure the mall to make sure... that theres nobody else injured, McMahon said.First responders were alerted by an emergency police call at 1615 GMT indicating shots were fired inside the modest-sized, two-story shopping center.Police made entry and found three dead, one found near a gun and ammunition, Howard County Police tweeted.Earlier news reports had said that the mall, located in Columbia, Maryland, about 45 minutes outside Washington, was on lockdown because of an active shooter situation.The mall of about 200 stores, which has an indoor carousel and play area, is a favored weekend destination for families and young children.Many people living in Columbia, a planned community replete with parks and good schools, work in either Washington or Baltimore.The Baltimore Sun newspaper said shoppers reported hearing gunfire before fleeing the upscale mall, home to several department stores such as Lord & Taylor, Macys and Nordstrom.NBC television spoke to one man who said he was in phone contact with his daughter, who was taking shelter in a Bank of America branch inside the shopping center, along with dozens of others.The young woman described a chaotic scene as shoppers were told to evacuate or quickly take shelter.People were panicking, the man said.An employee at one of the stores, speaking to CNN, described the mayhem as shots resonated through the mall.In todays world that we live in, when you hear gunshots, you run. Theres nothing else to do, he said.The shooting is the latest in a slew of gun-related rampages in the United States.The most notorious in recent history took place in Newtown, Connecticut, in December 2012 when a young gunman entered an elementary school and opened fire. In ten minutes, the 20-year-old shot and killed 26 people before taking his own life.The Newtown attack briefly reignited the US gun control debate, triggered every time there is a major shooting, although attempts to pass tougher laws have made little headway in the US Congress.

French president splits with partner after affair

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PARIS (AFP) - French President Francois Hollande on Saturday told AFP he has split with his longstanding partner Valerie Trierweiler after his affair with an actress nearly 20 years his junior.The announcement came after a day of rumours in the French media that Hollande would formally announce the rupture on Saturday, on the eve of a visit by Trierweiler to India for charity work.Saying he was speaking as a private individual and not as head of state as the matter concerned his private life, Hollande told AFP over the phone: I wish to make it known that I have ended my partnership with Valerie Trierweiler.Trierweiler, 48, had been convalescing at a presidential residence in Versailles outside Paris after leaving hospital last Saturday, where she was treated for what was described as fatigue brought on by press revelations of Hollande's affair with 41-year-old actress Julie Gayet.Trierweiler is due to fly to Mumbai on Sunday for a charity trip organised by French relief organisation Action Against Hunger (ACF), in her first public appearance since the scandal broke two weeks ago.An ACF spokeswoman told AFP the trip was confirmed this morning by Ms. Trierweiler's office.Hollande, 59, announced his separation from Segolene Royal, a senior member of his Socialist party and a presidential candidate in 2007, just after she lost the election to Nicolas Sarkozy.He then started living openly with Trierweiler. Though she is not married to Hollande, she assumed the role of First Lady at official functions after Hollande's election in 2012.There was no immediate comment from Trierweiler after the announcement of the split.On Saturday, the popular Le Parisien daily carried a story on its website declaring C'est Fini (It's Over), adding that the Elysee Palace would release a statement shortly.Hollande, who took the initiative for the separation, wanted to make it official before Valerie Trierweiler's departure for India, the Journal du Dimanche weekly said on its website.

Nadal chases 14th Slam win in Aussie final

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MELBOURNE (AFP) - World number one Rafael Nadal will be chasing his 14th major title when he takes on Switzerland's Stanislas Wawrinka in the Australian Open final later on Sunday.Nadal will start his 19th Grand Slam final as hot favourite against first-timer Wawrinka, the fast-improving eighth seed who is set to replace Roger Federer as the Swiss number one.The Spaniard will be bidding to tie Pete Sampras's career haul of 14 major titles and go joint second behind Federer's all-time record of 17. The final starts at 7:30 pm (0830 GMT).Victory would make Nadal only the third man, after Australians Roy Emerson and Rod Laver, to have won each of the four Grand Slam titles twice.And Nadal, at 27 years and 237 days, would also become the youngest man to win 14 Grand Slams, eclipsing Federer's corresponding feat at Roland Garros in 2009 by 66 days.The top seed has yet to drop a set in 12 encounters with Wawrinka, who knocked over three-time defending champion Novak Djokovic and world number seven Tomas Berdych to reach the final.Nadal again mastered his long-time rival Federer in the semi-finals to reach his third Australian final, after winning in 2009 and going down in a six-hour epic against Djokovic in 2012.But the Spaniard won't be taking Wawrinka lightly in the final, saying that their past matches mean little in the context of a high-pressure major final.For me, if you play in a Grand Slam final that's a different kind of match than I played against him in the past, he said.He's playing better than ever. He's a player that is ready to win against everybody. If I don't play my best tennis, I am sure that he will win three sets against me.But Nadal added: I am moving quick. I am able to come back from difficult situations with great shots and am able to keep producing power on the shot from very difficult positions.Wawrinka is playing the best tennis of his life, good enough to shock Djokovic and take him past close friend Federer in the new world rankings out next week.While Wawrinka faces a tough task to grab his first ever win over Nadal in a Grand Slam final, the Swiss is confident of his ability under Swedish coach Magnus Norman.Also in Wawrinka's favour is that Norman was the coach of Robin Soderling when the Swede upset Nadal at the 2009 French Open, the eight-time winner's last defeat at his favourite Grand Slam.I'm playing my best tennis here, I'm physically ready. I'm going to try everything. Before I beat Djokovic it was the same -- I had lost 14 times to him before that, said the 28-year-old.I'm always trying and I always think that I can change all the statistics, that's a positive.The final has been a long time coming for Wawrinka, who has reached his first title match in his 36th Grand Slam. Nadal has a win-loss record of 13-5 in major finals.

Tennis: Aussie win better than French, says Li

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MELBOURNE (AFP) - Chinese star Li Na said Saturday winning the Australian Open title was more satisfying than her Grand Slam breakthrough at the French Open because of the tough preparations that went into it.When she won at Roland Garros in 2011, it was the first Grand Slam title by an Asian player and enormously raised the profile of not only Li, but tennis in the region.But the victory was unexpected and she admitted she was not prepared to deal with it, later enduring a slump before returning to form under coach Carlos Rodriguez. The first time to win the French Open I really didn't prepare for that, she said. I didn't know what I should do after the win. Also nobody told me what I should do.I think now is different because I prepared to win a Grand Slam. Because this time I was thinking about if I win or if I lose, what kind of life I have. So for sure it's different than last time.At the French Open she was running on adrenalin, but here Li had a sleep in the locker room before the game and was cool and calm on court, using her experience to down Dominika Cibulkova 7-6 (7/3), 6-0.I prepared for this one for already two weeks. Every round, every day I was thinking about what I should do, she said.I prepared -- if I play in the semis what I should do, if I play in the final what I should do, because I already have twice been in the final up here.And also maybe you guys don't know how hard I was working mentally to make this one.With two Grand Slams now to her name, Li is keen to add more, preferably Wimbledon and the US Open. But at 31 she knows more glory will not come easy.Of course it's very easy to say I want to win another one, she said. But I think if you are tennis athlete, you have to know how much work has to be done to win the Grand Slam.Of course if I want to win another one or two, I have to go back to court and work hard and it will be even more tough than before, otherwise no chance.

Football: Man City survive FA Cup scare against Watford

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MANCHESTER (AFP) - Sergio Aguero's second-half hat-trick spared Manchester City from a major FA Cup upset as they overcame a two-goal deficit to beat second-tier Watford 4-2 in the fourth round on Saturday.Aguero scored twice to draw City level before Aleksandar Kolarov claimed the decisive 87th-minute goal with a speculative shot that goalkeeper Jonathan Bond allowed to squirm through his body and over the line.Aguero added gloss to a flattering scoreline, and completed his treble, deep in injury time when he rose to head in a cross from Jesus Navas.But the Championship visitors had appeared on the brink of an upset thanks to first-half goals from Fernando Forestieri and Troy Deeney -- the only player in their 18-man squad for whom they paid a transfer fee.From kick-off, the mid-table second-division side played with a degree of organisation, discipline and confidence that few Premier League teams have displayed at the Etihad Stadium this season.Forestieri placed an early free-kick into the defensive wall, Ikechi Anya had a penalty appeal waved away, and Forestieri wasted a glorious Watford counter-attack by miscueing a pass to Marco Faraoni.And after 20 minutes, City fell behind for just the third time against English opposition this season.Faraoni played a clever ball from the right-back position and Deeney's perfect flick freed Forestieri, who produced an accomplished finish through the legs of City goalkeeper Costel Pantilimon.City had previously trailed to English clubs for a grand total of eight minutes at the Etihad this season -- Everton having held the lead for one minute and Liverpool for seven on City's home turf.But there was no instant remedy on this occasion and, after 27 minutes, Forestieri almost doubled the lead when he created space for a low shot that flew just wide.The miss did not matter, for one minute later Watford made it 2-0 with a goal of which City and their galaxy of attacking stars would have been proud.With City right-back Micah Richards nowhere to be seen, Watford attacked down his flank, with Forestieri and Anya exchanging swift passes to put in Deeney, whose ability to finish past Pantilimon never looked in doubt.Watford might even have claimed an implausible third goal just before the interval when Faraoni's cross from the right found Daniel Pudil, who shot powerfully into the side-netting.City manager Manuel Pellegrini sent on Vincent Kompany for the anonymous Jack Rodwell at the interval and replaced the hapless Richards with Pablo Zabaleta, pushing Martin Demichelis into midfield.It was a move that brought about a gradual improvement. Demichelis almost connected with a Kolarov corner and Edin Dzeko played a one-two with Navas, only to then get the ball stuck in his feet.On the hour, however, City were back in the tie as Aguero added to his sizeable tally for the season.Kolarov's left-wing cross was met by Dzeko, who drew a solid block from Bond, only for the ball to break to the unmarked Aguero, who swept home from eight yards.There was ample possession for City and in the 79th minute Aguero claimed his second goal, which was carved out by a blistering run on the counter-attack by Navas.The Spaniard's pass was turned on to Aguero by Dzeko and the Argentine equalised with a superb curling shot into the top corner.Kolarov deceived Bond to put City in front before Aguero added the coup de grace with his 25th goal of the season.

Football: Ronaldo, Benzema fire Madrid into top spot

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MADRID (AFP) - Real Madrid moved clear at the top of La Liga for the first time since May 2012 thanks to a 2-0 win over Granada at the Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday.Cristiano Ronaldo opened the scoring on 57 minutes, as set up by Luka Modric, he rifled home his 31st goal of the season.Karim Benzema sealed Los Blancos' ninth consecutive win 12 minutes from time when he slotted home Marcelo's low cross.However, it was not a great afternoon for Gareth Bale as he was on the end of a rough challenge from Jeison Murillo early on and was eventually substituted at half-time.Madrid lead Barcelona and Atletico Madrid by two points, but both can move back to the top with wins over Malaga and Rayo Vallecano respectively on Sunday.The afternoon started in celebratory mood for the hosts as Ronaldo paraded the Ballon d'Or in front of the home fans.Ronaldo nearly got off to a blistering start as he cut inside onto his right foot and blasted a shot wide of the target on six minutes.Bale was then involved in an unfortunate clash with Murillo as the Colombian clattered the Welshman between the legs and was booked.Manuel Iturra nearly gifted Madrid the opener moments later as he deflected Dani Carvajal's cross onto his own crossbar.From the resulting corner, Sergio Ramos also should have given Carlo Ancelotti's men the lead as he headed over after Roberto had flapped at Angel di Maria's cross.After a bright start, though, Madrid's intensity dropped and it wasn't until first-half stoppage time that they threatened again as Roberto made a brilliant save to parry Ronaldo's sweetly struck overhead kick.Bale's unfortunate day continued as he was replaced by Jese Rodriguez at half-time.Madrid's tempo was immediately lifted by the Spanish under-21 international and Roberto had to be alert to deny early efforts from Di Maria and Modric.The goal did finally arrive just before the hour mark as Ronaldo worked space for himself inside the area before firing a low left-footed shot beyond Roberto into the far corner.Roberto did well to prevent Ronaldo doubling his tally with a low drive 10 minutes later and the Portuguese then saw a deflected free-kick come back off the bar.Madrid finally got the breathing space they craved on 78 minutes when a lovely move involving Ronaldo and Marcelo was finished off by Benzema for his fifth goal in his last six games.

Boxing: Pacquiao, Bradley set for rematch

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LOS ANGELES (AFP) - Philippine ring legend Manny Pacquiao will get a chance to avenge his controversial split decision defeat by Timothy Bradley in a rematch set for April 12 in Las Vegas.Bob Arum's Top Rank promotions announced the bout, in which Bradley will be defending his World Boxing Organization welterweight belt, on Saturday.Pacquiao and Bradley met for the first time on June 9, 2012 at the MGM Grand -- site for April's fight -- when Bradley's triumph ended Pacquiao's seven-year, 15-bout winning streak.But many thought the decision should have gone to Pacquiao, who will be keen to settle that score.Pacquiao's loss to Bradley was followed by another defeat, against Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez later in 2012.The two straight defeats had many speculating Pacquiao -- who boasts a record of 55-5-2 with 38 knockouts and is the only fighter to win eight world titles in as many different weight divisions -- would soon retire from the ring and focus on his political career.Last year he was elected to a second term as a congressman from the Sarangani province.However, Pacquiao notched a convincing win over American Brandon Rios in Macau in November, the triumph sparking renewed speculation of a long-awaited bout with American Floyd Mayweather.In late 2009 and early 2010, Pacquiao and Mayweather were considered the world's top pound-for-pound fighters and record profits were expected from a showdown between them, but the mega-fight never materialized.Bradley (31-0, 12 knockouts) is a two-division world champion who unified the junior welterweight titles twice during his previous four-year reign. The Californian will be returning to the ring after three impressive victories. After moving up in weight to beat Pacquiao in 2012, Bradley co-starred in the 2013 Fight of the Year last March, winning a brutal 12-round decision over Ruslan Provodnikov though Bradley suffered a concussion in the fight.In his most recent fight, in October, Bradley gave a virtuoso performance in split-decision victory over three-division world champion and Mexican icon Marquez.

Imran launches cricket scheme in troubled NW Pakistan

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PESHAWAR (AFP) - Former Pakistan cricketer turned politician Imran Khan launched a scheme Saturday to scout talent in the troubled northwestern Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province, hoping the game could bolster anti-terrorism efforts.Khan, who led Pakistan to their only World Cup win in Australia in 1992, said he hoped finding new talent in the region could help Pakistan win the title once more.This is the start to a campaign to unearth talent in the KPK (Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa), who will in turn bring another World Cup to Pakistan, Khan said at the launch of the scheme.Khans political party -- Tehreek-e-Insaaf (Movement for Justice) -- emerged as the third biggest force in last years elections and formed a provincial government in the Khyber-Paktunkhwa province, plagued by frequent suicide bomb bombings by Taliban militants.His party faces the challenge of bringing peace to the province, with Khan a vocal advocate on holding talks with the Taliban.I hope and pray that peace is restored in every part including FATA (Federally Administered Tribal Areas) where a lot of cricket talent needs to be unearthed, said Khan, who played 88 Tests and 175 one-day internationals for Pakistan during an illustrious career.Khan said he was himself unearthed by a talent hunt scheme.Forty years ago I went to Lahore University ground and was selected as a 16-year-old boy, said Khan.When I launched the first scheme in Karachi 20 years ago we unearthed Shahid Afridi, he added, describing the allrounder who still plays limited overs cricket for Pakistan.Afridi, also present at the launch, said young Pakistani talent was needed to supplement people like Khan both in cricket and politics as well as to divert young people away from extremism.Its a healthy activity and will help divert the youth to constructive activities, so I request the youth to support Khan, both in cricket and politics, said Afridi.Under the talent hunt scheme eight teams will be selected throughout KP province and selected players will be recommended to Pakistans national selectors.

New Zealand add Ryder to Test squad for India

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WELLINGTON (AFP) - Jesse Ryder was on the verge of completing a remarkable return to international cricket Sunday when he was named on the fringe of the New Zealand squad for next month's two Tests against India.New Zealand have kept the same 12 players who won the second and third Tests against the West Indies last month with Ryder added as cover for Ross Taylor whose wife is expecting their second child.The 29-year-old Ryder's first step back into the international arena after a turbulent two years on the sidelines came last month when he was named in the New Zealand one-day international side.Although loathe to tinker with a winning Test unit, chief selector Bruce Edgar said Ryder was one of a number of players in the ODI squad -- including Martin Guptill, Hamish Bennett and Jimmy Neesham -- pushing for Test selection. While New Zealand have kept the same frontline 12 Test players as a reward for how they have played, coach Mike Hesson said they realised India posed a much tougher prospect than an under-strength West Indies. We were thrilled the way we played to beat the West Indies 2-0, but realise we'll have to step it up another gear when playing India. It's an exciting challenge, he said.Ryder, a self-confessed bad boy who is regarded by many in New Zealand as a cult hero, went into a self-imposed exile 22 months ago to sort out personal issues following several alcohol-related incidents. In March last year, he suffered a fractured skull and was placed in an induced coma in hospital after being beaten up outside a bar. He also received a six-month ban last year after testing positive to a performance-enhancing drug found in weight-loss pills he was taking.The burly left-hander is a prodigiously talented batsman, averaging 40.93 from 33 Test innings and 34.00 in ODIs, from 40 innings. New Zealand: Brendon McCullum (captain), Corey Anderson, Trent Boult, Doug Bracewell, Peter Fulton, Hamish Rutherford, Jesse Ryder, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor, Neil Wagner, BJ Watling, Kane Williamson. Test openers Fulton and Rutherford will also play in the New Zealand XI side in a two day warm-up match against India beginning on February 2. The first Test starts in Auckland on February 6 and the second is in Wellington starting on February 14.

New Zealand, India tie ODI thriller

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AUCKLAND (AFP) - Ravindra Jadeja kept Indias one-day series against New Zealand alive as the tourists took 17 off the final over to tie an epic third match in the series at Eden Park Saturday.New Zealand were on the verge of sealing an historic series win over the world champions, after making 314 and then removing the cream of Indias batting talent to have the tourists at 184-6 with less than 15 overs remaining.But Jadeja, who finished unbeaten on 66, and Ravi Ashwin who posted a career-best 65, ensured India stayed in the game.Between them they put on 85 runs in 55 balls for the seventh wicket before Ashwin fell to a spectacular catch by New Zealand century-maker Martin Guptill, leaving Jadeja to get India to the end as the tail-end batsmen fell around him.Despite Jadejas heroics, India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni felt his side wasted an opportunity to seal a victory.Youre supposed to pick situations where we could have closed the game quite comprehensively. Those were the situations that we didnt grab and there were a few of our batsmen who could have done that so thats a bit disappointing, he said.But (its also a) good result because it keeps us alive in the series. We cant win it but we can go for a draw.New Zealand, who won the first two matches, need to win one more to claim the series victory, while India need to win the remaining two matches to draw.All-rounder Corey Anderson, who finished with five for 63, had the role of bowling the final over to India and could not contain Jadeja who belted two fours, a six and a single to go with two wides.Three overs from the end, New Zealand believed they had Jadeja caught behind but umpire Rod Tucker turned down the appeal even though replays indicated the ball touched the bat.New Zealand, who lost the toss for the third time, were sent into bat on a fast-paced wicket and were all out for 314 on the last ball of an innings built around Guptills 111.Guptill and Kane Williamson featured in a 153-run stand for the second wicket and when it was broken in the 33rd over with the removal of Williamson (65) New Zealand felt confident enough to promote big-hitting Anderson up the order.But the move did not pay off. Anderson went for eight and was quickly followed by Guptill, then Brendon McCullum (nought) and New Zealand were 230 for five.Ross Taylor (17) and Luke Ronchi (38) staged a minor recovery but when Taylor was run out it sparked a collapse in which New Zealand lost four wickets over 18 runs.At 288-9 it was left to some lusty hitting by Tim Southee to get New Zealand over the 300 mark before he was run out on the last ball.India had a scare at the start of their reply when Rohit Sharma was dropped by Jesse Ryder at second slip before they comfortably progressed to 64 without loss after nine overs.However, the momentum switched with a bowling change which saw Anderson remove Shikhar Dhawan (28) and Sharma (39) while Hamish Bennett, back in the New Zealand side after a three-year absence, removed Virat Kohli for six.Suresh Raina (31) and Dhoni (50) carried India through to 184 at the start of the batting power play.With the removal of Dhoni there was reason for New Zealand to sense they were in command, but Jadeja with his 66 of 45 deliveries, including four sixes and five fours, kept India in the game.
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