SAARI NEWS: AFP

Khurram ton puts Pakistan on top against South Africa

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<b>ABU DHABI: Opener Khurram Manzoor notched a maiden hundred to help Pakistan take an upper hand in the first Test against South Africa in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.</b></div>
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<b>The 27-year-old right-handed batsman was unbeaten on 131 and skipper Misbah-ul Haq on 44 not out as Pakistan made a strong reply of 263-3 to South Africa's 249 at Sheikh Zayed Stadium.</b></div>
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<b>Manzoor put a solid 135 for the opening wicket with debutant Shan Masood (75) to help Pakistan take a 14-run lead with seven wickets intact.</b></div>
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<b>Manzoor, who hit twin half-centuries in Pakistan's last Test against Zimbabwe in Harare in September, dominated the ball during his 244-ball knock and has so far hit 14 boundaries.</b></div>
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<b>He along with Misbah added 85 for the unbroken fourth wicket stand as Pakistan looked set to get a big lead.</b></div>
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<b>In the morning South Africa were dismissed after adding just four runs to their overnight score of 245-8.</b></div>
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<b>Manzoor in company of Masood started confidently, blunting a four-pronged South African pace attack on a lifeless pitch, reaching 77-0 at lunch.</b></div>
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<b>Left-hander Masood was the first to reach his maiden half-century, off 102 balls while Manzoor reached his sixth fifty -- third in a row in Tests -- off 96 deliveries.</b></div>
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<b>Masood finally fell, leg-before to part-timer Jean-Paul Duminy after hitting eight boundaries off 140 balls.</b></div>
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<b>South Africa then hit back with two quick wickets. Paceman Vernon Philander had Azhar Ali caught behind for 11 and then Morne Morkel had Younis Khan caught in the slips for one to leave Pakistan at 178-3.</b></div>
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<b>Manzoor though continued in the same vein, sweeping left-arm spinner Robin Peterson for two boundaries and an over later pushed the same bowler for two to reach three-figure mark, getting a standing ovation from the 7,000 strong crowd.</b></div>
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<b>He took 198 balls to reach the milestone, bettering his previous best of 93 made at Colombo against Sri Lanka in 2009.</b></div>
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<b>Manzoor and Masood dominated the bowling in the first session, putting on a solid hundred-plus stand.</b></div>
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<b>This becomes Pakistan's first century stand for first wicket since Taufiq Umar and Mohammad Hafeez put on 114 against England in Dubai in January last year, ten Tests earlier.</b></div>
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<b>The Manzoor-Masood pair is Pakistan's sixth different combination in seven Tests as they struggled to find a solid pair for several years.</b></div>
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<b>Misbah too has batted solidly, hitting four boundaries.</b></div>
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<b>Earlier, Mohammad Irfan (3-44) dismissed centurion Hashim Amla off the second ball of the day after South Africa resumed at 245-8.</b></div>
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<b>Amla, who made 118, edged one sharp Irfan delivery straight into the hands of slip where Younis Khan held a regulation catch. He hit 13 boundaries off 252 balls and held the South African innings on Monday.</b></div>
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<b>With the catch Younis equalled Javed Miandad's all-time Test catches record for Pakistan with 93. Miandad reached the tally in 124 Tests but Younis was quicker in 85 matches.</b></div>
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<b>The second and final Test starts in Dubai from October 23 before both teams play five one-day and two Twenty20 internationals. (AFP)</b></div>
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ABU DHABI: Opener Khurram Manzoor notched a maiden hundred to help Pakistan take an upper hand in the first Test against South Africa in...

Optimism but no deal in US fiscal showdown

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<b>Washington: The White House and Republicans painstakingly edged towards a deal Friday to stave off a disastrous US debt default and to end a partial government shutdown now sure to hit the two-week mark.<span id="more-288887"></span>
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President Barack Obama met face-to-face with Republican senators and spoke by phone with Republican House Speaker John Boehner, as subordinates haggled over the terms of an eventual truce to a bitter standoff.</div>
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“We are obviously in a better place than we were a few days ago in terms of the constructive approach we have seen,” White House spokesman Jay Carney said.</div>
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“But there is not an agreement.”</div>
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Amid rising optimism for a deal, and multiple tracks of dialogue, the main principles of a compromise emerged in public statements from both sides.</div>
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It will include a temporary, or more permanent, extension to US borrowing authority — without which Washington could begin to default on its obligations for the first time in history after October 17.</div>
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The government, shuttered since October 1, will be fully reopened, possibly on an interim basis, and there will be some kind of commitment from both sides to work towards an elusive deal to tackle the deficit, rein in spending and possibly to reform social programs and some aspects of the tax code.</div>
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Late in the day, Obama and Boehner, longtime foes who have often struggled to close deals, had what both sides said was a constructive conversation.</div>
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But there were signs that the White House was driving a hard bargain, as spokesman Jay Carney said that a rise in the debt ceiling could not be linked to long-term fiscal talks with Republicans, because it could set up repeated threats of default in the coming months.</div>
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The White House said earlier in the week that it would be open to a six-week extension of the debt ceiling after October 17.</div>
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US House Speaker John Boehner, speaks during a press conference in the US Capitol in Washington</div>
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But, perhaps sensing that it now has the upper hand in the fight, it now appears to be looking for an extension of borrowing authority from the current $16.7 trillion level for a longer duration.</div>
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“It is still acceptable as a bare minimum, sure,” Carney said.</div>
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One possible compromise plan is being offered by Republican Senator Susan Collins.</div>
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The measure would raise borrowing authority for up to a year, fund the government and repeal a tax on medical devices introduced under Obama’s health care law — as an incentive to get conservative Republicans on board.</div>
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Significantly, Carney did not rule out ending the medical devices tax — as long as its revenue could be found from elsewhere.</div>
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Such a solution would be somewhat of a facesaver for Republicans who entered the showdown determined to leverage the need to raise the debt ceiling as a way to defund or delay Obamacare.</div>
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Republicans from the lower house have offered to talk to Obama about a short-term resolution to fund the government, and then to move to long term budget and fiscal talks.</div>
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But the president insists he will not negotiate until both the debt ceiling is raised and the government is reopened.</div>
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Republican senators emerged from the White House talks into a rainstorm, and told reporters they were optimistic.</div>
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Arizona Senator Jeff Flake said there had been a “good talk” but no deal was reached.</div>
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Republican Senator Lindsey Graham said he was “confident that in the next 24 to 48 hours the House will produce a continuing resolution that will allow the government to be open in total.”</div>
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Senator Mike Johanns added: “everybody is talking to everybody now, and I’m encouraged by that.”</div>
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But Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid signaled that Democrats were driving a hard bargain.</div>
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The Senate will on Saturday vote on a 15-month extension of the debt ceiling, to take the issue off the table until after the mid-term congressional elections next year.</div>
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While the measure is unlikely to become law because it needs House support, it could provide a template for an eventual solution in the event of a longer term fiscal deal between Obama and Republicans.</div>
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Hopes for a deal spurred a rally in Asian stocks overnight and Wall Street followed the trend into positive territory in early trade.</div>
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The Dow Jones Industrial Average finished up 111.04 (0.73 percent) to 15,237.11.</div>
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If the US debt ceiling is not raised by October 17, the Treasury would run out of money and could begin defaulting on US obligations for the first time in history, with likely dire consequences for the world economy.</div>
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US President Barack Obama speaks during a meeting with small business owners in the White House in Washington</div>
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New signs of Republican flexibility may have been spurred by devastating polling numbers showing their party brand badly hurt by the political showdown.</div>
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An NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll showed 53 percent of those asked blamed Republicans for the government shutdown and only 31 percent pinned the blame on Obama.</div>
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Some 70 percent of those polled blamed Republicans for putting their political agenda before what was good for the country, compared to 51 percent who said the same of Obama.</div>
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G20 finance ministers meeting in Washington meanwhile demanded urgent action.</div>
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“The US needs to take urgent action to address short-term fiscal uncertainties,” the group of leading economies said in a statement.</div>
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<b>AFP</b></div>
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AFP us fiscal show down usa washington world Optimism but no deal in US fiscal showdown

Washington: The White House and Republicans painstakingly edged towards a deal Friday to stave off a disastrous US debt default and to e...

Self-mutilation for virtue in bloody Thai festival

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<b>Phuket (Thailand): Walking on fire or driving a brace of swords through your cheeks may not be activities most commonly associated with vegetarianism. But for participants of one Thai festival it’s the height of religious devotion.<span id="more-288539"></span>
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Thailand’s nine-day Vegetarian Festival in the tourist island of Phuket is a spectacular — and bloody — Chinese Taoist procession in which devotees purify themselves in public displays of self-mutilation.</div>
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“It is not a trick, it is real, real bodies,” said Chanchai Doungjit, director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand in Phuket.</div>
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“It is believed that pure men can walk on fire without getting burned,” he said.</div>
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Thousands of people, almost all dressed in white, lined the procession route on Thursday to pay their respects and receive blessings.</div>
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Mediums taking part — the majority of them men — eschew meat for several months before the festival, which began on October 5 and will finish on Sunday.</div>
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These participants believe they become possessed by spirits and, imbued with the power of otherworldly beings, are able to skewer their bodies and faces with a variety of imaginative implements, including guns, guitars and garden umbrellas.</div>
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The aim is to rid the area of evil spirits and thus bring good fortune to local communities.</div>
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“Even children can watch it,” said Chanchai, but added that “they might find it frightening and might wonder why the mediums have to torture themselves”.</div>
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The Vegetarian Festival honours Chinese gods and is thought to have begun in 1825 in Phuket, which has a sizeable ethnic Chinese population.</div>
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A devotee of the Chinese Bang Neow Shrine with his cheeks pierced by metal rods waits for the start of a street procession during the annual Vegetarian Festival in the southern Thai town of Phuket</div>
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During the festival, celebrants refrain from vice and maintain a vegetarian diet.</div>
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Pregnant women are forbidden to watch any of the rituals because they are considered impure.</div>
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The purification festival attracts some 100,000 people, according to the tourism authority.</div>
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Half of those visiting the festival tend to be Thais from nearby provinces, with a further 40 percent from other Asian nations and 10 percent from countries further afield like Russia and Australia.</div>
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“Phuket has the biggest vegetarian festival in the country,” said Chanchai, adding that some 600 million baht ($19 million) is spent by visitors in Phuket province during the festivities.</div>
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Before the procession, the mediums put themselves into a trance and began leaping through the temple before being escorted to an area for facial piercing.</div>
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As their eyes rolled back in apparent pain, a white-gloved assistant inserted a large spike into their cheeks until he made a hole big enough to insert the desired object to be placed through the face — from model boats to the more conventional swords.</div>
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Dozens of mediums then filed out into the streets, accompanied by helpers to wipe away blood and saliva and carry the heavier loads.</div>
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Other groups of devotees carrying idols were also part of the procession.</div>
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These icons were the target for thousands of firecrackers thrown from the watching crowds, in a continuous barrage of explosions that filled the street with thick smoke.</div>
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<b>AFP</b></div>
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AFP Amazing chanchai doungiit phuket thai festival thailand thailand vegetarian festival Self-mutilation for virtue in bloody Thai festival

Phuket (Thailand): Walking on fire or driving a brace of swords through your cheeks may not be activities most commonly associated with ...

Nobel Peace Prize-2013 awarded to chemical weapons watchdog

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<b>OSLO: This year's Nobel Peace Prize awarded to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, Geo News reported minutes ago Friday.</b></div>
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The Hague-based OPCW was founded in 1997 to implement the Chemical Weapons Convention signed on January 13, 1993.</div>
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It marks the second year in a row that the Peace Prize is awarded to an organisation, following last year when the European Union got the honour.</div>
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Until recently operating in relative obscurity, the OPCW has suddenly been catapulted into the global spotlight because of its work supervising the dismantling of Syria's chemical arsenal and facilities.</div>
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A team of around 30 OPCW arms experts and UN logistics and security </div>
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personnel are on the ground in Syria and have started to destroy weapons </div>
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production facilities, with footage of their work broadcast on Syrian </div>
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television.</div>
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The OPCW said on Tuesday it was sending a second wave of inspectors to </div>
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bolster the disarmament mission in the war-ravaged nation.</div>
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Since the OPCW came into existence 16 years ago, it has destroyed 57,000 </div>
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tonnes of chemical weapons, the majority of them leftovers from the Cold War held by the United States and Russia.</div>
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"It's the slow steady laying down of bricks over the weeks, months and </div>
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years, people sitting in control rooms watching this stuff going into the chutes," OPCW spokesman Michael Luhan said recently.</div>
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He described the OPCW's work as characterised by "persistence" and "without any fanfare."</div>
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"It's the slow grinding work that we hope over time will be more </div>
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appreciated," he said.</div>
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The OPCW's work was the "subject of years and years of patient diplomacy in which we've demonstrated that we do diplomacy very, very well. We've kept everybody aboard, we keep adding states parties, we're approaching </div>
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universality."</div>
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To date, the OPCW has 189 members representing more than 98 percent of the world population, with Syria due to become a full-fledged member of the convention on Monday.</div>
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Israel and Myanmar signed in 1993 but have not yet ratified, according to the OPCW website.</div>
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Four states --  North Korea, Angola, Egypt, South Sudan -- have neither </div>
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signed nor ratified the Convention.</div>
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The OPCW also provides assistance and protection to any member state </div>
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subject to threats or attacks with chemical weapons.</div>
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Luhan, the OPCW spokesman, said any reaction to the peace prize would be </div>
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posted on the organisation's website, adding it did not want to create the impression that it was focussed on anything but its work.</div>
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"We're in the process of trying to achieve something in Syria," he said.</div>
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"If we achieve the objectives of this mission (in Syria), then there'll be something to celebrate."</div>
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<b>AFP</b></div>
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AFP nobel peace prize 2013 opcw oslo sweden syria Technology watchdog world Nobel Peace Prize-2013 awarded to chemical weapons watchdog

OSLO: This year's Nobel Peace Prize awarded to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, Geo News reported minutes a...

Bangladesh fight back with Mominul’s ton

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<b>CHITTAGONG: Young left-hander Mominul Haque hammered a maiden Test century as Bangladesh replied strongly to New Zealand's 469 on the third day of the first Test in Chittagong on Friday.    </b></div>
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The 22-year-old was unbeaten on 130 as the hosts went to lunch on 176-3, still trailing the Black Caps by 293 runs at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury stadium.    </div>
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Shakib Al Hasan was the other batsman at the crease on 15, having added 42 so far for the fourth wicket with his free-stroking partner.    </div>
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Mominul, nicknamed Sourav by team-mates for a batting style that reminds them of former India captain Sourav Ganguly, has so far hit 21 boundaries.    </div>
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The youngster, who came in to bat in his fourth Test with his side struggling at 8-2 on Thursday evening, launched a spectacular counter-attack to keep the Black Caps at bay.    </div>
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Mominul put on 126 for the third wicket with debutant Marshall Ayub, who defended dourly at the other end while making 25.    </div>
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The pair, resuming at 103-2, took the score to 134 when Ayub was caught behind to hand debutant left-arm seamer Corey Anderson his first Test wicket.    </div>
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Bangladesh, who have lost eight and drawn one of their nine Tests against New Zealand, need a big first innings score to avoid defeat in the first game of the two-match series. (AFP) </div>
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AFP bangladesh cricket chittagong CRICKET cricket news newzealand vs bangladesh score SPORTS Bangladesh fight back with Mominul’s ton

CHITTAGONG: Young left-hander Mominul Haque hammered a maiden Test century as Bangladesh replied strongly to New Zealand's 469 on th...

Bollywood boards Chennai Express to steam back to Egypt

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<b>CAIRO: Crowds of movie lovers cheered as Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan's latest film "Chennai Express" screened in Cairo theatres, marking the return of Hindi cinema to Egypt after more than two decades.</b></div>
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Men, women and college students applauded Khan's comic timings and laughed when he punched the bad guys, clearly showing that the film's Hindi language soundtrack is no barrier to Egyptians.</div>
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"I love Shah Rukh Khan. I am so happy that I saw his movie in Cairo," said a cheerful Mohammed Hamid who sells DVD films, as he emerged from Cairo's Galaxy multiplex after watching the movie for the second time in as many days.</div>
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"Chennai Express" has entered its second week in Egypt, screening in 10 cinema halls -- eight in Cairo and two in Alexandria -- after smashing box office records in India.</div>
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It is the first of a "pipeline" of Bollywood films to be screened with Arabic subtitles in Egypt, distributors say.</div>
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The film, which also stars popular Indian actress Deepika Padukone, has become Bollywood's biggest box office grosser, with earnings topping $30 million since its release in August, Indian film weeklies say.</div>
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A typical Bollywood mix of action, romance and comedy, the film tells the story of a 40-year-old man who becomes embroiled in the dealings of a south Indian don when he rescues his runaway daughter from thugs aboard the Chennai Express train to southern India.</div>
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Khan himself is jubilant at the Egyptian response to his movie.</div>
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"A big thanx to everyone in Egypt... I am made to understand u guys made the film go thru the roof of the pyramids ...!!!" the actor wrote on his Twitter account.</div>
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DVD vendor Hamid, who has given himself the nickname Kabir Khan after a character played by the actor in his 2007 blockbuster "Chak De India!" (Come on India!), showed up to the film screening in a headband similar to one worn by Khan at a cricket match.</div>
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He says he wants more Bollywood movies to be screened in Egypt.</div>
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"Shah Rukh is the best, but we want to see movies of Amitabh Bachchan also," said Hamid, referring to India's legendary actor.</div>
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Bachchan is a household name in Egypt, with fans ranging from taxi drivers to bankers fondly remembering his movies from the 70s and 80s when they dominated Egyptian theatres.</div>
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His megahit "Mard" (Macho) was a huge success in the 80s in Egypt, ruling cinema halls for months.</div>
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In 1987 the regime of now toppled president Hosni Mubarak put restrictions on Bollywood movies entering Egypt in order to protect the local film industry.</div>
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Barring the occasional screening, Indian films disappeared from Egyptian theatres.</div>
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The restriction was "one of the reasons" for the demise of Bollywood's influence in Egypt, says Antoine Zeind, chairman of United Motion Pictures, the distributors of "Chennai Express" in Egypt.</div>
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"At that time there were no multiplexes and Egypt also produced a large number of films," said Zeind, detailing other causes of the fall-off in public screenings of Indian films.</div>
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For Bollywood insider Amrita Pandey of Disney UTV, the scourge of piracy and accessibility to Indian cinema through satellite and cable television contributed to Egyptians "retreating to watch movies at home instead of at theatres".</div>
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"Needless to say the political instability of the region added to the challenge," Pandey told AFP in Mumbai.</div>
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Cairo's deadly violence and a night-time curfew imposed since August after a bloody security crackdown on supporters of ousted president Mohamed Morsi is no deterrence to Zeind.</div>
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He plans to bring two other big budget Bollywood films "Kriish 3", the latest in the hit superhero franchise, and action-thriller "Dhoom 3" as soon as they are released in India.</div>
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In the meantime he will continue screening "Chennai Express", which theatre managers say is attracting audiences through word of mouth.</div>
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"Egyptians have always loved Bollywood movies," Zeind told AFP at his downtown Cairo office, its walls plastered with posters of Hollywood flicks like "The Wolverine" and "300: Rise of an Empire".</div>
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"We had to start somewhere and it was a good time to bring Bollywood films back to Egypt as Indian cinema celebrates its 100th year."</div>
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Over the past few months Indian and Egyptian officials have worked on reviving the film distribution network between the two countries.</div>
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"It was an odd situation ... Egyptians clearly love Indian films ... and yet, they couldn't find their favourite Indian films on the big screen. That's where we intervened to connect Egyptian distribution channels with Indian film producers," said Navdeep Suri, Indian ambassador in Egypt.</div>
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Bassma, a longtime fan of Bollywood fare, arrived dressed in full Indian attire to watch her screen idols.</div>
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"We were downloading new Bollywood movies from the Internet, but now we can see them on our big screens. We are thirsty for Bollywood," she said.(AFP)</div>
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<b>AFP</b></div>
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AFP BOLLYWOOD bollywood news cairo news chennai express egypt egypt news Entertainment Bollywood boards Chennai Express to steam back to Egypt

CAIRO: Crowds of movie lovers cheered as Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan's latest film "Chennai Express" screened in Ca...

Sale add to Biarritz misery

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<b>Paris:  Sale piled on the misery for misfiring Biarritz with a 33-10 win on the opening night of the European Challenge Cup season on Thursday.<span id="more-288569"></span>
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Biarritz, the champions in the continent’s second-tier competition in 2012, conceded two penalty tries to the English side with Russian lock Andrei Ostrikov adding the third try.</div>
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South African prop Eugene van Staden scored the only try for Biarritz who went into the match having lost eight of their nine French Top 14 matches this season.</div>
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Sale, the 2002 and 2005 champions, also saw rookie fly-half Joe Ford, who replaced Danny Cipriani, finish with 16 points from three penalties, two conversions and a drop goal in a perfect kicking display.</div>
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Stade Francais, the runners-up to Leinster last season, ran in nine tries in a 61-3 rout of out-classed Portuguese debutants, Lusitano.</div>
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Julien Arias (2), Jerome Porical (2), Andrea Cocagi, Nicolas Garrault, Anton van Zyl, Pierre Rabadan and Richard Kingi scored the home side’s tries.</div>
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Bayonne ran in four tries to defeat Grenoble 37-6 in an all-French clash.</div>
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They secured a bonus point with a last-minute try from replacement forward Opeti Fonua.</div>
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<b>AFP</b></div>
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AFP biarritz paris Rugby sale SPORTS Sale add to Biarritz misery

Paris: Sale piled on the misery for misfiring Biarritz with a 33-10 win on the opening night of the European Challenge Cup season on T...

Malala wins EUs Sakharov rights prize

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<b>STRASBOURG: Malala Yousafzai, Pakistan's teenage activist, on Thursday was awarded the European Parliament's prestigious Sakharov human rights prize.</b><br />
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"Today, we decided to let the world know that our hope for a better future stands in young people like Malala Yousafzai," said the chairman of the conservative European People's Party (EPP).<br />
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The 16-year-old is also one of the front runners for the Nobel Peace Prize which will be announced in Oslo on Friday.<br />
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<b>Background</b> <br />
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Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani schoolgirl campaigner who survived a Taliban murder attempt last year, has become a global icon of the struggle for girls' education and peace. <br />
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In her courageous recovery from being shot in the head by a Taliban gunman, the 16-year-old has emerged as a beacon for all those who seek to overcome violence and intolerance with dignity.<br />
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She received a standing ovation for an address to the United Nations General Assembly in July in which she vowed she would never be silenced and on Thursday won EU's prestigious Sakharov human rights prize.<br />
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Malala first rose to prominence in 2009, aged just 11, with a blog for the BBC Urdu service chronicling life under Taliban rule in Swat, the beautiful valley in northwestern Pakistan where she lived.<br />
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Her struggle resonated with tens of thousands of girls denied an education by militants across northwest Pakistan, where the government has been fighting local Taliban since 2007.<br />
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When the army launched an offensive to oust the Taliban, Malala fled Swat with her family led by her father Ziauddin, school principal and himself a seasoned campaigner for education.<br />
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After this difficult period she resumed her work promoting education, received the first national peace award from the Pakistani government and was nominated for the International Children's Peace Prize.<br />
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But on October 9 last year the men with guns decided they could no longer tolerate the girl with a book and sent two hitmen to kill Malala on her school bus.<br />
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The Pakistani Taliban claimed the attack and warned that any woman who stood up to them would suffer a similar fate.<br />
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Incredibly she survived -- the bullet grazed her brain and travelled through her neck before lodging in her shoulder -- and as she lay fighting for life in hospital, Pakistan and the world united in horror.<br />
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After surgery in Pakistan, Malala was flown for further treatment to Britain, where six days after the attack she woke up.<br />
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"The first thing I thought was, 'Thank God I'm not dead.' But I had no idea where I was. I knew I was not in my homeland," Malala wrote in an autobiography published this week.<br />
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Eventually she recovered enough to continue her studies at school in the central city of Birmingham, where her family moved to join her.<br />
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There she learned to enjoy things one might expect of a British teenager -- TV shows like "Masterchef" and "Ugly Betty", fried chicken and cheesy potato snacks.<br />
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But her determination to campaign for education, fired by her own mother's illiteracy, remains undiminished.<br />
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In her speech given to the UN on her 16th birthday in July, Malala pledged herself to the fight for all children to go to school and said the Taliban attack would not silence her.<br />
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"Nothing changed in my life, except this: weakness, fear and hopelessness died. Strength, power and courage was born," she said.<br />
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Time magazine has listed Malala as one of the 100 most influential people in the world, and she has spoken of her desire to enter politics to change Pakistan and improve education.<br />
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For now, she is concentrating on spreading the simple message she spelt out at the UN: "One child, one teacher, one pen and one book can change the world."<br />
<b>AFP</b><br />
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AFP epp eu sakharov right prize malala yousufzai noble prize PAKISTAN strasbourg won world Malala wins EUs Sakharov rights prize

STRASBOURG: Malala Yousafzai, Pakistan's teenage activist, on Thursday was awarded the European Parliament's prestigious Sakharov...

Libyan PM seized by anti-crime unit in good health: agency

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<b>TRIPOLI: Libyan Prime Minister Ali Zeidan was seized Thursday by an anti-crime unit of former rebels and is in "good health", the official LANA news agency quoted a spokesman as saying.</b></div>
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The Brigade for the Fight against Crime, which in principle falls under the defence and interior ministries, "has indicated that it is holding head of government Ali Zeidan" and added that he "will be well-treated", the agency reported.</div>
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<b>AFP</b></div>
</div>

AFP Libyan PM seized by anti-crime unit in good health world Libyan PM seized by anti-crime unit in good health: agency

TRIPOLI: Libyan Prime Minister Ali Zeidan was seized Thursday by an anti-crime unit of former rebels and is in "good health", ...

Pakistan ready for South Africa: Misbah

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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd9F7A-x6RG9_WwjqGpb2CfuAYgLVzFGacjzPuwgETRZLLAiYheFOcCvVGGCI1yWh2w_DopkX9eFhcJ59XdzLzyJpda6GUwMeA75W3RFVTEu1BHAJ1SZDs4elq2RIVFL6loY6h3qJOXt4/s1600/misbah+ul+haq.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd9F7A-x6RG9_WwjqGpb2CfuAYgLVzFGacjzPuwgETRZLLAiYheFOcCvVGGCI1yWh2w_DopkX9eFhcJ59XdzLzyJpda6GUwMeA75W3RFVTEu1BHAJ1SZDs4elq2RIVFL6loY6h3qJOXt4/s1600/misbah+ul+haq.JPG" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>LAHORE: Pakistan captain Misbah-ul Haq said Monday his side was ready to take on the mighty South Africans, despite missing an opener and enduring a wretched recent run of form.</b></div>
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The sides meet for a two-Test series in the United Arab Emirates starting next week, with Pakistan coming off the back of an embarrassing drawn series against minnows Zimbabwe.</div>
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South Africa, rated number one Test team in the world, whitewashed Pakistan 3-0 at home earlier in the year, but Misbah insisted his men would rise to the challenge.</div>
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"Our preparations and moral are good," the 39-year-old skipper said as the team left for the UAE. </div>
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"We have to forget the past and play competitive cricket in this tough series."</div>
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Pakistan have won only one of their last eight Tests, with their batsmen letting them down repeatedly.</div>
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They go into the series with just one specialist opener in the 12-man squad as regular Mohammad </div>
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Hafeez was dropped after scoring just 102 in his last five Tests.</div>
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<br /></div>
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"No doubt Hafeez is a senior player but because he is out of form it was difficult for him (to get into the team) but I am sure others are also capable to do well," said Misbah.</div>
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Misbah said a three-day practice match between Pakistan 'A' and a South Africa XI, starting in Sharjah on Tuesday, would give them the chance to identify a replacement.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
"We will use a regular opener, there will be no makeshift arrangements and I am sure that we will find another opener from the three-day match," said Misbah.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
With the experienced Hafeez, Imran Farhat and Taufeeq Umar left out, it is a fresh-faced Pakistan top order that will take on the might of South Africa's four-man pace attack.</div>
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<br /></div>
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The selected opener Khurram Manzoor has played only nine Tests while two other candidates for the second opening berth -- Ahmed Shehzad and Shan Masood -- have yet to make their Test debuts.</div>
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<b>AFP</b></div>
</div>

AFP CRICKET misbah ul haq SPORTS Pakistan ready for South Africa: Misbah

LAHORE: Pakistan captain Misbah-ul Haq said Monday his side was ready to take on the mighty South Africans, despite missing an opener an...

Nadal rises to world no.1, Federer drops

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<b>SHANGHAI: Rafael Nadal was confirmed as the new world number one in the latest ATP tennis rankings published on Monday, pushing Novak Djokovic to second as Roger Federer drops to seventh.</b><br />
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<br />
Nadal has 11,160 points, just 40 ahead of Djokovic, who lost his grip on the top spot despite defeating the Mallorcan to win the China Open on Sunday.<br />
<br />
Britain's Andy Murray, currently recuperating from back surgery, is third in the revised rankings but Swiss great Federer sinks one place from sixth to seventh.<br />
<br />
Spain's David Ferrer remains at number four, just 185 points off Murray's tally, while Argentina's Juan Martin del Potro moves up two places to fifth after winning the Japan Open.<br />
<br />
Since returning in February after seven months out with a left knee injury, Nadal, 27, has won 10 titles, including the French Open and US Open.<br />
<br />
Until Sunday's loss to Djokovic, he had been unbeaten since Wimbledon, where he was a shock first-round loser to Belgium's Steve Darcis.<br />
<br />
Nadal has previously had two stints at the summit of men's tennis. He first became number one in August 2008 and stayed there for 46 weeks, regaining top spot in June 2010 and adding 56 weeks to his tally.<br />
<br />
ATP world rankings<br />
<br />
1 Nadal, Rafael (ESP) 11,160 (+1)<br />
<br />
2 Djokovic, Novak (SRB) 11,120 (-1)<br />
<br />
3 Murray, Andy (GBR) 6,895 <br />
<br />
4 Ferrer, David (ESP) 6,710 <br />
<br />
5 Del Potro, Juan Martin (ARG) 4,925 (+2)<br />
<br />
6 Berdych, Tomas (CZE) 4,610 (-1)<br />
<br />
7 Federer, Roger (SUI) 4,515 (-1)<br />
<br />
8 Wawrinka, Stanislas (SUI) 3,150 (+1)<br />
<br />
9 Tsonga, Jo-Wilfried (FRA) 3,115 (-1 0<br />
<br />
10 Gasquet, Richard (FRA) 3,095<br />
<br />
11 Raonic, Milos (CAN) 2,815<br />
<br />
12 Haas, Tommy (GER) 2,355<br />
<br />
13 Isner, John (USA) 2,115 (+3)<br />
<br />
14 Simon, Gilles (FRA) 2,095<br />
<br />
15 Janowicz, Jerzy (POL) 2,060<br />
<br />
16 Almagro, Nicolas (ESP) 2,030 (+1)<br />
<br />
17 Fognini, Fabio (ITA) 1,885 (+2)<br />
<br />
18 Nishikori, Kei (JPN) 1,840 (-5)<br />
<br />
19 Robredo, Tommy (ESP) 1,830 (-1)<br />
<br />
20 Anderson, Kevin (RSA) 1,775 <br />
<br />
<b>AFP</b><br />
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AFP atp tennis ranking rafeal nadal shangai SPORTS tennis Nadal rises to world no.1, Federer drops

SHANGHAI: Rafael Nadal was confirmed as the new world number one in the latest ATP tennis rankings published on Monday, pushing Novak Djoko...

Afghanistan qualify for World Cup 2015

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<b>SHARJAH: Afghanistan booked their place in the World Cup for the first time on Friday when they swept past Kenya by seven wickets in their final qualifying match.</b><br />
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<b><br /></b>
<br />
Set a modest 94 to win, Afghanistan, who were playing in the fifth tier of international cricket just five years ago, reached their target in the 21st over when captain Mohammad Nabi hit Shem Ngoche for a boundary through midwicket.<br />
<br />
Afghanistan join World Cricket League winners Ireland as qualifiers for the 2015 World Cup to be played in Australia and New Zealand.<br />
<br />
In the finals, they will play in Pool A against Australia, New Zealand, England, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. (AFP)</div>

afghanistan Afghanistan qualify for World Cup 2015 AFP CRICKET cricket news qualify SPORTS world cup 2015 Afghanistan qualify for World Cup 2015

SHARJAH: Afghanistan booked their place in the World Cup for the first time on Friday when they swept past Kenya by seven wickets in their ...

10-year-old takes Zurich university maths class

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<b><span id="goog_2114435516"></span><span id="goog_2114435517"></span>GENEVA: A 10-year-old boy who passed a Swiss final high school maths exam for fun is taking a special course in the subject at prestigious Zurich University, the institution said Wednesday.</b><br />
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Maximilan Janisch, whose father is a retired maths professor, is the youngest child to ever be allowed to follow such a course at the university, its president Michael Hengartner told AFP.<br />
<br />
"He's a very intelligent child," Hengartner said, pointing out that the <br />
boy, whose parents are German, "understands a lot of concepts for his age".<br />
<br />
Gifted Janisch has already skipped three grades in primary school, but <br />
cannot officially enrol at the university since he does not have a complete high school diploma.<br />
Instead, he will follow a specialised course aimed at talented high school seniors wanting to get a leg-up on the university curriculum.<br />
<br />
The boy told the SonntagsZeitung weekly earlier this year that he was "not a specialist at making friends" since his classmates were so much older than him.<br />
<br />
"I can't find anyone with whom I can discuss Archimedes (a mathematician in ancient Greece), and most people don't even know who (renowned 19th-century German mathematician Carl Friederich) Gauss is," he complained. (AFP)<br />
<br /></div>

10-year-old takes Zurich university maths class AFP Amazing geneva world 10-year-old takes Zurich university maths class

GENEVA: A 10-year-old boy who passed a Swiss final high school maths exam for fun is taking a special course in the subject at prestigious ...

Nearly 9 in 10 kids in China know cigarette logos: study

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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>WASHINGTON: Nearly nine in 10 children in China can identify a cigarette logo, according to a US study out Monday that measured tobacco recognition among five- and six-year-olds in various countries.</b></div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
The study in the journal Pediatrics covered six nations -- Brazil, India, Nigeria, Pakistan, Russia, as well as China -- where adult smoking rates are the highest, according to the World Health Organization.</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
More than two thirds of the children studied (68 percent of the 2,423 participants) could identify at least one cigarette brand logo.</div>
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The findings raise concerns about whether low and middle income countries are complying with international bans on tobacco advertising to young children, the study authors said.</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
"What was amazing to me was how we saw kids who don't live with smokers but were very aware of cigarette brands," lead author Dina Borzekowski of the University of Maryland told AFP.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
"What that says to me is they are getting their messages through the community, in their environments. They are seeing it at retail establishments, they are seeing posters. When they go off to buy a piece of candy at a local store, they are seeing these logos."</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
For the study, researchers sat down with children and played a matching game, in which the youths were asked to pair a logo with a picture of a product, such as a car, beverage, food item or pack of cigarettes.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
All the children -- about 400 in each country -- were shown Marlboro and Camel logos, along with local brands that were distinct to their country.</div>
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"We would show them a logo and they would have to pick up a card with the product," said Borzekowski. </div>
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The highest recognition rates were in China, where 86 percent of children could identify at least one cigarette brand logo. </div>
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"In China, on average, kids knew almost four out of eight of the brands," Borzekowski said.</div>
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"These are little kids. The idea that they can recognize logos at this young an age is amazing."</div>
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At the opposite end of the spectrum was Russia, where 50 percent of children studied knew at least one cigarette logo.</div>
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More than a quarter of all children studied could identify two to three cigarette brands, and 18 percent knew four or more.</div>
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Children were also asked if they intended to smoke when they grew up. The highest yes rate was in India, where 30 percent -- both boys and girls -- said they planned to be smokers as adults. </div>
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In China, Nigeria, Pakistan and Russia, boys were more likely than girls to say they would smoke as adults.</div>
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In Brazil, 59 percent of kids could identify a cigarette brand, and 16 percent of them could identify Marlboro specifically.</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
The study was done in selected urban and rural areas in the host countries, and researchers said they endeavored to make sure the children were "typical" and not from wealthier communities where awareness of tobacco marketing might be higher.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
However, they noted that because the studies were not nationwide, they "may not reflect the national populations in each country."</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
The World Health Organization has a Framework Convention on Tobacco Control that is signed by 168 countries and calls for limits on advertising and marketing to children.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
"The problem is in low and middle income countries, I don't think there is good regulation," said Borzekowski.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
"So even though the laws are on the books, they may not be adhered to."</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>AFP</b></div>
</div>

AFP cigrattee HEALTH Nearly 9 in 10 kids in China know cigarette logos study Nearly 9 in 10 kids in China know cigarette logos: study

WASHINGTON: Nearly nine in 10 children in China can identify a cigarette logo, according to a US study out Monday that measured tobacco ...

Clarke unfit for India tour

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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>SYDNEY: Captain Michael Clarke was Tuesday ruled out of Australia's one-day tour of India this month with his long-standing back problem needing further treatment ahead of the home Ashes series against England.    </b></div>
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The star batsman was picked in the initial 14-man squad last month but the chronic injury has failed to show as much progress as expected, with George Bailey assuming responsibilities as skipper. "Michael was very keen to captain the ODI team to India but unfortunately he hasn't progressed enough to be available for selection," said national selector John Inverarity.    </div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
Clarke has been plagued by back problems for years and it flared up again before Australia's final ODI in Southampton last month at the end of a gruelling Ashes tour to England.    </div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
He played in that game, but selectors are reluctant to take any more risks with Clarke given a big home summer coming up including the return Ashes series which starts with the first Test in Brisbane on November 21. "Michael Clarke has a long-standing low-back injury that requires ongoing management," said team physiotherapist Alex Kountouris. </div>
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"During the recent England ODI series his injury flared up again and has been slow to improve with his regular treatment regime. "Michael will therefore not be available to play the upcoming India ODI series and will require a more extensive rehabilitation period before returning to competitive cricket."    </div>
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Australia are due to play a seven-game ODI series and one Twenty20 in India from October 10, coached by Steve Rixon while Darren Lehmann is rested.     </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
South Australia's Callum Ferguson has been called up to replace Clarke with veteran wicketkeeper Brad Haddin assuming Bailey's previous role as vice-captain.    </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
Selectors, meanwhile, added highly promising New South Wales batsman Nic Maddinson to their squad for the one-off T20 match. "Nic showed some sparkling form on Australia A tours during the winter," said Inverarity.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
"He will be in strong contention to open the batting with Aaron Finch in this game."    </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
ODI squad: George Bailey (capt), Nathan Coulter-Nile, Xavier Doherty, James Faulkner, Callum Ferguson, Aaron Finch, Brad Haddin, Moises Henriques, Phil Hughes, Mitchell Johnson, Glenn Maxwell, Clint McKay, Adam Voges, Shane Watson.    </div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
T20 squad: George Bailey (capt), Nathan Coulter-Nile, Xavier Doherty, James Faulkner, Aaron Finch, Brad Haddin, Moises Henriques, Mitchell Johnson, Nic Maddinson, Glenn Maxwell, Clint McKay, Adam Voges, Shane Watson. (AFP)</div>
</div>

AFP aussie news CRICKET cricket news michael clarke SPORTS Clarke unfit for India tour

SYDNEY: Captain Michael Clarke was Tuesday ruled out of Australia's one-day tour of India this month with his long-standing back pro...

Stokes named Young Cricketer of the Year

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<b>LONDON: England all-rounder Ben Stokes has rounded off a memorable season that has seen him gain selection for the upcoming Ashes tour of Australia by becoming the first Durham player to be named the Cricket Writers' Club Young Cricketer of the Year.</b><br />
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<b>Stokes, 22, helped Durham win the County Championship for the third time in six years by scoring 615 runs in 13 matches with a best of 127 against title rivals Yorkshire at Scarborough and took 42 wickets at 26.57 with his lively right-arm fast-medium bowling.</b><br />
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<b>The son of former New Zealand rugby league international Ged Stokes, he also impressed at England level, taking a one-day international career best five for 61 in the final match of the recent series against Australia at Southampton.</b><br />
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<b>He will now look to add to a tally of 2,258 Test caps and 1,781 limited overs international caps, not including Stokes' own, won by previous Young Cricketers of the Year, an award now in its 64th year and open to England-qualified players under the age of 23 on May 1, which is voted for by the Full Members of the Cricket Writers' Club. </b><br />
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<b>(AFP)</b><br />
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AFP ben stokes county cricket CRICKET cricket news durham london SPORTS Stokes named Young Cricketer of the Year

LONDON: England all-rounder Ben Stokes has rounded off a memorable season that has seen him gain selection for the upcoming Ashes tour of...

RJD leader Lalu Prasad convicted in fodder scam case, taken to jail

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<b>NEW DELHI: A CBI court on Monday convicted Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad in the multi-crore fodder scam case. </b><br />
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The RJD President was taken to jail after being convicted by the special CBI court. 65-year-old Prasad was taken to the Birsa Munda Central Jail in Ranchi. <br />
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While coming out from the court, Yadav appeared calm and did not take any question as his car sped away to the jail located at Hotwar on the outskirts of Ranchi, adjacent to the National Games Village.<br />
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The former Bihar chief minister faces a maximum of 7 years in jail and will be immediately disqualified as a Lok Sabha member after he is sentenced. <br />
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The other 44 accused in the case, including several politicians and bureaucrats, were also convicted.<br />
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Seven accused were awarded three years of rigorous imprisonment and granted bail immediately, while the quantum of punishment for Prasad and 38 others will be announced on October 3.<br />
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This indicates that Prasad might get rigorous imprisonment for more than three years. If that is the case, Prasad can get bail only from the high court.<br />
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Prasad and others were charged with fraudulent withdrawal of around Rs. 38 crore from the exchequer on fake fodder bills in the 1990s, according to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). <br />
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The money was withdrawn from the treasury located in Chaibasa, part of the then undivided Bihar. Lalu Prasad was Bihar's chief minister between 1990 and 1997.<br />
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The seven accused who were sentenced on Monday comprise two politicians, an IAS officer and four suppliers - three of whom are women.<br />
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Former state minister Vidhay Sagar Nishad, former Public Accounts Committee chairman Dhruv Bhagat, and former state labour secretary K Armugam are among those sentenced.<br />
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<b>AFP</b></div>

AFP bihar chief minister indian news lalu prasad world RJD leader Lalu Prasad convicted in fodder scam case, taken to jail

NEW DELHI: A CBI court on Monday convicted Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad in the multi-crore fodder scam case. The RJD Pr...

Yen rebound in Asia

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<b>TOKYO: The yen rallied in Asia on Friday, rebounding from the previous day's losses fuelled by a report that Japan would cut corporate taxes to offset the impact of an expected hike in sales tax.</b><br />
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In Tokyo midday trade, the dollar bought 98.72 yen, compared with 98.94 yen late in New York and well below the levels above 99 yen in Asia Thursday.<br />
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The euro slipped to 133.10 yen from 133.48 yen, and to $1.3483 from $1.3488.<br />
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Japan's Kyodo news agency said Thursday that Tokyo was considering the business tax cut to allay fears that the flagged rise in the sales levy -- to 8.0 percent from 5.0 percent -- would hurt the country's economic revival.<br />
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That boosted confidence among traders, who moved out of the safe-haven yen.<br />
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However, on Friday Finance Minister Taro Aso threw into question a timeline for any business tax cuts, which he described as a "long-term issue".<br />
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The dollar received a measure of support in New York from data showing an unexpected improvement in weekly figures for US initial claims for unemployment insurance.<br />
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<b>AFP</b></div>

AFP asian market Business tokyo Yen rebound in Asia

TOKYO: The yen rallied in Asia on Friday, rebounding from the previous day's losses fuelled by a report that Japan would cut corporate ...

Egypt court bans all Muslim Brotherhood activities: TV

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CAIRO: An Egyptian court on Monday banned all the activities of the Muslim Brotherhood and ordered the assets of the backers of ousted president Mohamed Morsi seized, state television said.<br />
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The court's ruling comes amid a crackdown on the Brotherhood and more than a month after hundreds of protesters died in a police operation to disperse their Cairo sit-ins, sparking a wave of nationwide violence. (AFP)<br />
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<b>AFP</b></div>

AFP brotherhood cairo news court egypt mohamed morse morsi war in egypt world Egypt court bans all Muslim Brotherhood activities: TV

CAIRO: An Egyptian court on Monday banned all the activities of the Muslim Brotherhood and ordered the assets of the backers of ousted pr...

Australia name squad for ODI’s against India

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<b>SYDNEY: Veteran wicketkeeper Brad Haddin was Thursday recalled to Australia's one-day squad to play India but troubled batsman David Warner and spinner Fawad Ahmed missed out.    </b><br />
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Captain Michael Clarke was also among the 14 players selected for the seven-game series in India from October 11, which will be coached by Steve Rixon while Darren Lehmann is rested.     <br />
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Whether Clarke makes the trip or not depends on treatment for his chronic back problem, with national selector John Inverarity making clear he was picked "subject to fitness."    <br />
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Haddin was the surprise inclusion, winning his place on the back of a lean England one-day series by alternative keeper Matthew Wade, which Australia won 2-1.    <br />
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Haddin, 35, was drafted back into the Test side in place of Wade for the recent Ashes series against England to serve as Clarke's vice-captain. He broke Rod Marsh's 30-year-old record for the most dismissals in an Ashes series, but was not in the team for the subsequent one-day matches.<br />
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 "Matthew Wade has been omitted due to lack of form and has been replaced by Brad Haddin, who captured an Ashes series record of dismissals in July and August," said Inverarity. "Matthew is 25 years of age and has a great deal of natural ability both as a batsman and as a keeper.<br />
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 The selectors are confident that Matthew will regain form and press hard for selection in the not-too-distant future."    <br />
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The glaring omission for India was the dynamic Warner, who missed the first two Ashes Tests after being suspended in the run-up to the series for punching England's Joe Root in a Birmingham bar following Australia's Champions Trophy defeat to their arch-rivals.    <br />
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He was then dropped for the one-day matches against England and returned home early to Australia.    <br />
Inverarity made no comment on the left-hander but Clarke earlier in the day backed him to bounce back from his England disappointment, saying he remained a vital part of the Australian set-up despite his problems.<br />
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"Davey is certainly a big part of the Australian team, whatever format," said Clarke. "He knows we've got a huge summer ahead and when an opportunity comes up again, I'm sure he'll grab it with both hands."     <br />
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Pakistan-born Ahmed, who made his international debut in England, also missed out. <br />
Xavier Doherty replaces him as the only specialist spinner in the squad.    <br />
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Inverarity said Ahmed bowled well in England with limited opportunities, but Doherty was better suited to Indian conditions.    <br />
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Whether Clarke is on the plane depends on the progress of treatment for his back, which has plagued him for years.    <br />
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The captain returned to Sydney late Wednesday and said he would consult team physiotherapist Alex Kountouris and probably undergo scans.<br />
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"No doubt it's quite stiff and sore," he said of his back. "But I'll be guided by the experts on what I need to do now to try and get myself as fit as I can be. I would certainly like to go and continue to play."    <br />
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Rixon will coach the tour with Lehmann, who took over from the sacked Mickey Arthur just before the Ashes started, given time to rest ahead of the return series against England starting in November. "Darren has been on the road and away from home for a considerable amount of time.<br />
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This is a great opportunity for Darren to refresh, work with the states and provide others with opportunities," said Inverarity.        <br />
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Australia: Michael Clarke (capt), George Bailey (vice-capt), Nathan Coulter-Nile, Xavier Doherty, James Faulkner, Aaron Finch, Brad Haddin, Moises Henriques, Phil Hughes, Mitchell Johnson, Glenn Maxwell, Clint McKay, Adam Voges, Shane Watson. (AFP)<br />
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<b>AFP</b><br />
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acb AFP australia australia name squade for india tour australia tour to india 2013 CRICKET SPORTS sydney Australia name squad for ODI’s against India

SYDNEY: Veteran wicketkeeper Brad Haddin was Thursday recalled to Australia's one-day squad to play India but troubled batsman David ...