subhan

Changing test format will damage the game

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Karachi, July 02: Former Pakistan test captain Javed Miandad has urged the International Cricket Council (ICC) to resist calls for a shake-up of the traditional test match format.

The ICC is considering reducing tests to four days from the current five as part of a series of innovations aimed at keeping the oldest form of the sport exciting to spectators in the wake of Twenty20’s growing popularity.

“Any move to change the format of test cricket or the way it is played would prove very harmful to cricket in the long run,” Miandad told Reuters on Thursday.

North Korea fires two short-range missiles

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Pyongyang, July 02: North Korea has reportedly fired two short-range missiles amid high tensions and threats of war following Pyongyang’s nuclear test in May.

The communist state launched the missiles on Thursday off its eastern port of Wonsan, AFP quoted a South Korean defense military official as saying.

One was fired at 5:20 pm (0820 GMT) and the other at 6:00 pm, he said.

Baghdad blast kills one, wounds 10

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Baghdad, July 02: An Iraqi soldier has been killed and 10 civilians wounded when a roadside bomb exploded next to an Iraqi military patrol in central Baghdad.

According to police, the blast occurred in Baghdad’s Karrada neighborhood early on Thursday. Two soldiers were also among the injured.

The incident occurs two days after the withdrawal of US combat troops from urban areas.

On Tuesday, American troops handed control of towns and cities nationwide to the Iraqi forces, marking the first major step toward complete withdrawal from Iraq by the end of 2011.

North Korea looks to be readying new missile launches

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Seoul, July 02: North Korea appears to be preparing a new series of missile tests, including short-range ballistic and ground-to-ship rockets, a South Korean newspaper reported Thursday.

The ballistic missiles are believed to be Scud-B missiles with a range of 340 kilometres or Rodong rockets, whose 1,300-kilometre range was likely to be shortened to
400 kilometres for the upcoming tests, the JoongAng Ilbo said, citing an unnamed intelligence source.

Naked passenger forces US plane to land

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Washington, July 02: A 50-year-old man on board a US Airways jet en route to Los Angeles has been arrested after he stripped naked and ran around, forcing the plane to divert and land in Albuquerque, according to media reports Thursday.

Keith Anthony Wright, a resident of New York, was being held in federal detention in New Mexico pending his appearance in court on charges of interference with a flight, FBI spokesman Darrin Jones was quoted as saying by the Los Angeles Times.

Shahid wants stammer his way to success

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Mumbai, July 02: Guess who Bajaaoed Malishka? None other than Shahid Kapoor. Shahid Kapoor made his first appearance at Red FM studios on the morning show today and accompanying him was filmmaker Vishal Bhardwaj promoting their upcoming movie Kaminey.

It all started with some friendly leg pulling with RJ Malishka calling Shahid, Fhahid imitating his accent in Kaminey where he plays a double role. Shahid shot right back and called her MaliFhka and the leg pulling continued with Shahid having a complete blast on air.

Amnesty report “unbalanced” and “unprofessional”, says Hamas

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Gaza, July 02: The radical Islamist Hamas movement rejected Thursday accusations by Amnesty International that it had committed war crimes during last winter’s Israeli offensive in Gaza.

The 117-page report from the London-based human rights group accused both Hamas and Israel of war crimes during the 22-day conflict.

Amnesty did not talk to Hamas leaders, making the report “automatically unbalanced,” Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuchri told a news conference in Gaza City.

Akshay To Jump From 10th Floor At Delhi Event This Evening

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Mumbai, July 02: Trust Akshay Kumar to put a kahani mein twist even in a routine happening like a press meet.

On Thursday evening in Delhi to promote Kambakkht Ishq Akshay decided to conduct a press conference in a unique way.
He opted to join the melee of press persons at the Citywalk mall by jumpimg down from the 10th floor.

Laughs Akshay, “I think everyone was bored with just the routine questions and answers. So I decided to make the get-together exciting for both the parties at the press meet and for the onlookers.”

Meet SRK’s new found friends Chouw and Mouw

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Mumbai, July 02: If Shahrukh can’t come to India, his brands will follow him wherever he is.

Recently, the actor, who is shooting in San Francisco for My Name is Khan (MNIK) had two surprise guests on his sets. Says a source from the sets, “Two green, cute and cuddly characters Chouw and Mouw tried to barge into SRK’s van, which had a signage — Rizwan — SRK’s character in MNIK.

Obama “last chance” for Palestinians, says Abbas aide

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Geneva, July 02: A senior Palestinian official was quoted Thursday as saying United States President Barack Obama was the “last chance” for a two-state solution to the conflict with Israel.

“Obama is our savior. He is realistic and pragmatic. He is not a dreamer,” said Yasir Abed Rabbo, a senior aide to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

“He is our last chance,” Abed Rabbo told the Geneva-based Le Temps newspaper, citing the growing Israeli settlements as an impediment to regional peace.

Aussies not as confident as they normally are: Harmison

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London, July 02: With the first Ashes Test in Cardiff a week away, English pacer Steve Harmison believes that Australia are suffering from a crisis of ”confidence”.

Harmison claimed three wickets for 67 from 22 overs for England Lions against Ricky Ponting’s side at New Road yesterday.

”This is my fourth time against Australia and the one thing I picked up … is that they are not as brash and confident as they normally are,” Harmison said.

England need learn to play without Flintoff

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London, July 02: Controversial all-rounder Andrew Flintoff is past his prime and England should learn to play without him, feels former skipper Mike Gatting.

Gatting said England can win the Ashes against Australia without Flintoff, who now plays more as a bowler, and can be replaced.

“You would not want to because he (Flintoff) gives you so much, but England need to learn to play without him,” Gatting was quoted as saying in the Times.

“We won without him against the West Indies when, to me, Graham Onions was a revelation.

No operation in N Waziristan: Pakistan army

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Islamabad, July 02: Pakistan’s military denies intentions of extending its anti-militant campaign to North Waziristan, urging people in the tribal region to cooperate with the army.

Pakistan Army’s helicopters dropped pamphlets in provincial capital Miranshah, calling on the residents to side with the government forces who are fighting pro-Taliban insurgents in neighboring South Waziristan.

The text rejects allegations by miscreants who launch attacks on the military and say the army plans to begin an operation in the area.

Shekhar ki Tedhi Baatein

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Mumbai, July 02: Shekhar ki Tedhi Baatein Shekhar Suman is all set to crack up the screen with satirical talk show “Tedhi Baat Shekhar Ke Saath’ along with Chhupa Rustom fame Gurpaal Singh.

It is neither spoof nor caricature of any talk show. Shekhar will be seen in varied avatars as interviewee and Gurpaal as pokerfaced interviewer. Their Camaraderie as interviewer and interviewee will make you laugh like a drain.

On concept…

Iraq starts looking for soldiers missing in action in Kuwait, Iran

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Baghdad, July 02: Iraq has asked for help from both the Iranian and Kuwaiti governments on locating Iraqis who were captured or went missing during Iran/Iraq war and the first Gulf war, officials said Thursday.

Aaround 469 Iraqis were captured and more than 52,000 went missing during the Iran-Iraq war (1980-1988), known as the First Gulf War in Iraq.

“The file of prisoners and missing is one of the important issues adopted by the ministry,” Hussein al-Zuheiry, deputy in the Human Rights Ministry was quoted by al-Sabah newspaper as saying.

Adjusting to SL conditions is a challenge

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Karachi, July 02: Flamboyant all-rounder Shahid Afridi has said Pakistan would face a big challenge of switching over to Test cricket and adjusting to the Sri Lankan conditions after their month-long stint in the cold English conditions during the twenty20 World Cup.

“The series in Sri Lanka would not be easy at all it will be a big challenge for our players to make successful adjustment from T20 cricket to Tests as well the different weather conditions,” Afridi said.

City polytechnic girl student attacked by youth

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Hyderabad, July 02: In yet another bizarre incident, a third year polytechnic girl student was attacked by a final year student of the TRR Polytechnic College with a knife in Almasguda in the outskirts of the city today.

According to police, Sudhakar Naik, a native of Kadapa, was harassing Lavanya of the same college for the last two months to reciprocate his love. He also approached her parents with a marriage proposal which they refused to entertain.

“I personally know of men who are born MCPs” – Akshay Kumar

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Mumbai, July 02: Akshay Kumar is playing a MCP in his forthcoming release ‘Kambakkth Ishq’ who believes that he would never ever get hitched with just one woman for his entire life.

However, his character falls in love, and how! Ending up exclaiming ‘Hai Yeh Kambakkth Ishq’, he goes on to proclaim that while men are from Mars, women are not from Venus, but in fact Heaven. Getting ready for his return to India so as to be in time for the film’s premier, Akshay Kumar chats with Joginder Tuteja over phone from USA where he had gone with his family for a holiday.

Malinga To Sign Up With Tasmania

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Colombo, July 02: Sri Lankan fast bowler Lasith Malinga will sign up with Tasmania for Australia’s domestic Twenty20 tournament. After signing contract with Tasmania, Malinga will become third International player to play in Australia’s T20 Big Bash tournament.

Earlier, West Indies skipper Chris Gayle had signed with Western Australia, while West Indies all-rounder Dwayne Bravo had joined Victoria for the Big Bash.

BCCI finalizes Venus for Australia’s tour to India

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London, July 02: BCCI finalizes Venus for Australia’s tour to IndiaThe Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced the venues for the Australia’s India tour during which India will play seven ODI matches against Australia, in the meeting of BCCI’s tournament and fixture committee on Wednesday.

The Australian tour is being scheduled to start from October 25 with last ODI match to be played on 11th November.

Twenty20 finalists gear up for Test battle

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Colombo, July 02: Pakistan and Sri Lanka make an emotional return to Test cricket on Saturday, almost four months to the day after a militant attack halted their last contest.

The three-Test series is the first between the two nations since armed gunmen fired on the Sri Lankan team bus while the players were on their way to resume a Test match in the Pakistani city of Lahore on March 3.

Seven Sri Lankan cricketers were injured and eight local security men were killed in the attack that forced the cricket world to abandon Pakistan as a venue for international cricket.

Tribesmen kill 42 militants in NW Pakistan

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Islamabad, July 02: Pakistani tribesmen have launched a massive attack on Taliban-linked militants in the violent northwest, killing more than 42 insurgents.

Tori Lashkar (Tori militia) confronted the terrorists with “full force” and destroyed their hideouts in various parts of Kurram agency, Azmat Ali Khan, a local Shia tribal leader, told Press TV correspondent late Wednesday.

Khan said they killed at least 42 Taliban-inspired militants in the two-day clashes, acknowledging 18 tribal fighters also lost their lives in the skirmishes.

Madni’s custody extended to July 15

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Kolkata, July 02: The Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM), Kolkata, on Wednesday remanded Mohd. Omar Madni, suspected linkman of Lashkar-e-Toiba, in police custody till July 15.

Madni alias Mazahar was wanted by Kolkata police for his involvement in a case of fake currency.

Public Prosecutor Krishna Chandra Das pleaded that the Burtolla police had recovered fake notes of face value of Rs 60,000 and arrested four persons on May 7, 2009.

The police came to know about the involvement of Madni after interrogating Mohijur Rehman, Toffazal Hossain and Asit Sarkar.

Iran to support families of unrest victims

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Tehran, July 02: Iran has announced that the Martyrs Foundation will support the families of the innocent victims of Tehran’s post-election riots.

Officials say at least 20 people, including eight Basij members were killed in post-election incidents.

The announcement comes a week after informed sources said that terrorists had infiltrated among protesters to foment unrest.

Iran’s Martyrs Foundation supports families of those martyred or maimed in the Iraq-Iran war.

——Agencies