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The Express Tribune Newsletter: June 12, 2012
Dunya TV
Dunya TV |
- Memo case: SC 9-member larger bench to start hearing today
- Arsalan case: SC asks Malik Riaz to record statement today
- I will record my statement only in SC: Malik Riaz
- Gilani terms PML-N conduct during budget speech deplorable
- President takes serious notice of rape of 8-year old girl
- US exempts India, six others from Iran sanctions
- NATO limits airstrikes on Afghan homes
- NASA rover on target for August landing on Mars
- Oil prices fall on global economic concerns
- Ukraine beats Sweden 2-1 in European Championship
- France and England draw 1-1 at Euro 2012
- Bell recalled to England ODI squad to play Windies
- Ramdin fined for Richards' message
- England and West Indies draw third Test
- NATO supply not halted to raise charges: Sherry
| Memo case: SC 9-member larger bench to start hearing today Posted: <p> </p><p>The bench would be headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry and comprises Justice Mian Shakirullah Jan, Justice Jawwad S. Khawaja, Justice Khilji Arif Hussain, Justice Tariq Parvez, Justice Asif Saeed Khan Khosa, Justice Amir Hani Muslim, Justice Ijaz Ahmed Chaudhry and Justice Sh Azmat Saeed to hear the constitutional petitions regarding the alleged memo delivered to Admiral Mike Mulen, former US Joint Chief Staff.</p><p> </p><p>The Commission, constituted by the Supreme Court has submitted its report on June 11th, in sealed covers, therefore, the matter has been fixed in Court for opening of the report and passing appropriate orders.</p><p> </p><p>The Registrar office also issued notices to the petitioners through their counsel and the learned Attorney General for Pakistan.</p><p> </p><p>The three-member memo commission headed by Justice Qazi Faiz Isa was set up last year in December on the orders of the apex court. The commission was asked to probe into the scandal that came to the fore after some serious allegations were made against the former Pakistan ambassador, Husain Haqqani by a US citizen Mansoor Ijaz.</p><p> </p><p>Ijaz alleged that former ambassador Husain Huqqani after the Abbottabad episode had asked him to write a memo to the US official seeking support for the civilian government.</p><p> </p><p>The commission investigating the allegations held 24 marathon sessions recoding statements of scores of concerned persons including that of the prime character Mansoor Ijaz’s on video link, while the statement of Husain Haqqani could not be recorded as he like Ijaz on the pretext of security demanded video link facility, which the commission didn’t accede and, thereafter, Huqqani despite repeated summons refused to come to Pakistan.<br /> </p>
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| Arsalan case: SC asks Malik Riaz to record statement today Posted: <p> </p><p>During hearing on Monday, Justice Jawad Khawaja of the 2-member bench investigating the Arsalan Iftikhar case has said that an open transparent trial to confirm media reports regarding the case was imperative.</p><p> </p><p>The 2-member bench of Supreme Court, comprising Justice Jawad Khawaja and Justice Khilji Arif Hussain opened up the hearing of the Arsalan Iftikhar case on Monday, whence Arsalan Iftikhar opened up an emotional tirade on rostrum, against “media and Malik Riaz for wrongly implicating my family into the case”, requesting that, while he was even ready to face jail under (proven) consequences, at least the joint tirade of media and Malik Riaz against his family should be reigned in.</p><p> </p><p>Justice Jawad expressing displeasure, admonished Arsalan over his imprudent behavior for apex court, advising him to leave the details to his attorney(s).</p><p> </p><p>“This case is of utter importance, since no other case is being currently being debated throughout Pakistan”, remarked Justice Jawad, while seeking the view of attorneys of both sides over the section(s) according to which the case of any possible graft given to Arsalan, was to be pursued.</p><p> </p><p>The Attorney for Arsalan Iftikhar, Sardar Ishaq referred to section PPC-420, while Zahid Bukhari outlined sections PGC-383/384, pertaining to extortion money and carrying a 3-year sentence.</p><p> </p><p>However, Justice Khilji rejected PGC-383/384, over which Zahid Bukhari reiterated his request for grace period to prepare his detailed response.</p><p> </p><p>Zahid Bukhari prayed that Apex Court could not investigate the issue, but could either be handed over to any investigative concern or “a commission based on form of Memo-Commission, since even the Memo-commission had been formed by Court over media statements and sworn testimonies”.</p><p> </p><p>Justice Jawad expressed displeasure of failure of Malik Riaz to appear in Court, over which Zahid Bukhari prayed that his client was ill and under treatment abroad, “Yet he is still arriving in Country by Tuesday, despite being ordered rest and refrain from traveling by doctors”, adding that this depicted Malik Riaz’s sheer respect for Court(s).</p><p> </p><p>Zahid Bukhari requested for 2-days grace for detailed answer, which was objected to by Justice Jawad Khawaja, since he was chagrined over the media hype over the issue, necessitating urgent measures.</p><p> </p><p>On the occasion, Arsalan’s attorney read out the detailed answer of Arsalan, in which Arsalan had refuted any connection or relation with Malik Riaz, and /or his son-in-law.</p><p> </p><p>However Justice Jawad did probe about one character, Zahid Rehman, who was determined as one who had arranged flats in London. <br />Meanwhile Ali Zafar advocate representing Bahria Town, who presented detailed record of Bahria Town since 1986, through the good offices of FBR (Federal Board of Revenue).</p><p> </p><p>On the occasion, Arsalan’s attorney also filed his client’s application, in which Arsalan had demanded that imprudent attitude of media, and Malik Riaz of flinging accusations at Arsalan’s family should be reigned-in.</p><p> </p><p>He cited a specific TV program anchored by Hamid Mir, in which the snapshots of Arsalan’s sisters and mother were displayed; warning that if this sequence was ever uploaded by universally viewed “U-Tube” portal, it would have serious consequences.</p><p> </p><p>However Justice Jawad declared it as kind of media trail, which was also endorsed by general public. “For all its certain shortcomings, media was aware of its responsibilities.</p><p> </p><p>Sardar Ishaq’s reference to threats to his client’s (Arsalan’s) life was also strongly discounted by Malik Raiz’s attorney, who vehemently denied his client’s projected volatility.</p><p> </p><p>Justice Jawad was also chagrined over failure of Bahria Town administration’s failure to provide details about share holdings of Bahria Town, which were divulged by SECP, according to which Ali Riaz owned 25 per cent, while Bina Riaz owned 74 per cent. <br /> </p>
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| I will record my statement only in SC: Malik Riaz Posted: <p> </p><p>Malik Riaz, the chief figure in Arsalan Iftikhar case has said that he would record his statement in Supreme Court only on his appearance in apex court today (Tuesday).</p><p> </p><p>Talking to media upon his arrival at Islamabad airport, he refused to offer any comments to media over the excuse that Supreme Court had ordered him to refrain from talking to media.</p><p> </p><p>The CEO, Bahria Town who was undergoing treatment in London, touched down in Karachi for a one-hour stopover and a medical check-up, on Monday night, after which he arrived at Islamabad airport in his private jetliner, accompanied by his wife, and all possible load of proofs.<br /> </p>
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| Gilani terms PML-N conduct during budget speech deplorable Posted: <p> </p><p>Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has said that the conduct of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) in the National Assembly during speech was deplorable.</p><p> </p><p>He said this while talking to a delegation of Pakistan People’s Party MNAs from Faisalabad Division at the Parliament House.</p><p> </p><p>He advised parliamentarians of his party to stay in contact with masses as elections are not far.</p><p> </p><p>Parliamentarians from Dera Ghazi Khan and Sargodha divisions also called on PM Gilani at the Parliament House. The Prime Minister apprised the law makers of his party that issue of power shortage will come under discussion in the next cabinet meeting.</p><p> </p><p>Meanwhile Adviser on Interior, Rehman Malik, briefed the Prime Minister on the overall law and order situation in the country.<br /><br /> </p>
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| President takes serious notice of rape of 8-year old girl Posted: <p> </p><p>President Asif Ali Zardari has taken serious notice of rape of 8-year old girl by four boys in Jhang. The President directed the relevant authorities to take immediate action against the criminals involved in the ghastly act. He ordered thorough investigation into the matter.</p><p> </p><p>Meanwhile, Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has also taken serious notice of rape of 8-year old girl. The Prime Minister directed the IGP Punjab to take immediate action against those involved in the heinous crime. He ordered thorough and immediate investigation into the matter. The Prime Minister also ordered the provision of complete protection to family of the girl.<br /> </p>
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| US exempts India, six others from Iran sanctions Posted: <p> </p><p>The United States said Monday it would exempt seven countries including India from tough new sanctions on their banking sector after they cut oil purchases from Iran.</p><p> </p><p>Secretary of State Hillary Clinton added India, Malaysia, South Africa, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Turkey and Taiwan to countries exempt from the new sanctions. In March, she made exemptions for European Union nations and Japan.</p><p> </p><p>However, the United States did not announce an immediate exemption for China -- another major importer of Iranian oil. A senior US official said that Washington remained in talks with the growing Asian power over the sanctions.</p><p> </p><p>The decision was announced two days before Clinton was to meet Indian officials for annual talks. Looming sanctions over Iran had cast a shadow over otherwise warming relations between India and the United States.</p><p> </p><p>Under a law approved last year, the United States from June 28 will begin to penalize foreign financial institutions over transactions with Iran s central bank, which handles sales of the country s key export.</p><p> </p><p>Clinton described the latest exemptions as proof that nations were cutting back their business with Iran, which Israel and some Western officials fear is seeking a nuclear weapon.</p><p> </p><p>"Today s announcement underscores the success of our sanctions implementation," Clinton said in a statement.</p><p> </p><p>"By reducing Iran s oil sales, we are sending a decisive message to Iran s leaders: until they take concrete actions to satisfy the concerns of the international community, they will continue to face increasing isolation and pressure," she said.</p><p> </p><p>The US law had initially irritated some US allies, fearing that cutting back oil from Iran would hurt their economies at a difficult time.</p><p> </p><p>India said last month that it would cut its purchases of Iranian oil by 11 percent. The decrease is below that pledged by several other countries, but marked a change from New Delhi s initial protests that the law was unfair.</p><p> </p><p>Clinton pressed India to cut back on Iranian oil during a visit last month.<br /> </p>
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| NATO limits airstrikes on Afghan homes Posted: <p> </p><p>The US-led military coalition in Afghanistan is limiting airstrikes against houses to self-defense for troops, following a strike last week that killed women and children alongside insurgents, a spokesman for the alliance said Monday.</p><p> </p><p>Such airstrikes are now being designated a weapon of last resort to rescue soldiers, cutting back their use.</p><p> </p><p>Though airstrikes on homes are a small part of the international operations in Afghanistan, they have brewed resentment among Afghans, even when there are no casualties, because of the sense that homes and privacy have been violated.</p><p> </p><p>Civilian deaths from such operations have threatened to derail the Afghan-US alliance.</p><p> </p><p>A pact signed by the Afghan government and the US military in April putting Afghans in charge of joint raids in villages was supposed to ease these tensions, but the aftermath of Wednesday s airstrike against a home in eastern Afghanistan has shown that the Americans are still making the decisions on the ground.</p><p> </p><p>Afghan officials have said that 18 civilians were killed in the strike. President Hamid Karzai rebuked US forces for failing to consult their Afghan counterparts before calling for an airstrike in the house where insurgents had taken cover. NATO discovered that civilians had died the next morning when villagers piled the bodies into vans to display to Afghan officials.</p><p> </p><p>Karzai demanded in a meeting Saturday night with NATO and US forces commander Gen. John Allen that the international troops ban all airstrikes on homes.</p><p> </p><p>A spokesman for the alliance, Lt. Col. Jimmie Cummings, said Monday that airstrikes were being severely curtailed.</p><p> </p><p>"We will continue to conduction combat operations against insurgents who use civilian dwellings, but we will not use air-delivered munitions against civilian dwellings unless it is a question of self-defense for our troops on the ground," Cummings said.</p><p> </p><p>Commanders previously could order airstrikes against insurgents on houses, as long as they were confident that there were no civilians present.</p><p> </p><p>Cummings says that the new restrictions mean commanders will not be able to call in a strike unless it is necessary to save the lives of their troops. This applies even if it is clear there are no civilians in the house.</p><p> </p><p>Lt. Gen. Curtis Scaparrotti, second in command in Afghanistan, said the new rules will not mean a large change for troops overall, because such air strikes make up a small portion of total. Of the more than 1,300 cases in which air support was called in since January, 32 damaged civilian compounds and five civilian casualties were confirmed, the Pentagon said in a statement.</p><p> </p><p>"So the point I m making is most of our .... engagements are engagements with the enemy that are not in compounds," he told Pentagon reporters in a video-conference from Afghanistan.<br /> </p>
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| NASA rover on target for August landing on Mars Posted: <p> </p><p>NASA s latest spacecraft to Mars is due to land in August, even as engineers are troubleshooting a contamination issue with one of its instruments.</p><p> </p><p>Mission managers said Monday the one-ton rover named Curiosity looks healthy. It is headed for a crater near the Martian equator on a two-year mission to study whether the environment could have been suitable for primitive life.</p><p> </p><p>The mission has been nagged by an issue with the rover s drill that will bore into Martian rocks. Before launch, tests showed that when handled a certain way, the drill produced a contaminant that could leak into samples gathered. A team has been studying ways to get around the problem.</p><p> </p><p>Project manager Pete Theisinger says he s confident Curiosity will still achieve all its goals.<br /> </p>
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| Oil prices fall on global economic concerns Posted: <p> </p><p>A multi-billion dollar bailout loan for Spain s banks generated initial enthusiasm in the global stock, bond and energy markets. But by the close in New York, the good feeling had given way to skepticism.</p><p> </p><p>Benchmark oil fell $1.40 to $82.70 per barrel in New York. Brent crude, which is used to price international varieties of oil, dropped $1.47 to $98 per barrel in London. The broad S&P 500 stock index fell 1.3 percent.</p><p> </p><p>Leaders of European countries agreed over the weekend to lend Spain up to $125 billion to help its troubled banking system. Spain is the fourth European country after Greece, Portugal and Ireland to request financial help since the debt crisis began.</p><p> </p><p>Oil jumped above $86 per barrel in trading in Asia. But the relief was temporary, replaced by concern over Spain s ability to repay the money. The potential for Greece to abandon the European current still hangs over the market, as does a deepening recession in Italy. That turmoil, as well as slowing economic growth in China and the U.S., is reducing demand for oil, gasoline and diesel fuel.</p><p> </p><p>It s not yet clear whether Europe s ongoing efforts to put the financial crisis to rest will result in an economic turnaround. "It just doesn t seem like that s very close," said Michael Lynch, president of Strategic Energy & Economic Research.</p><p> </p><p>Meanwhile, oil supplies continue to build despite ongoing weak demand around the world.</p><p> </p><p>U.S. oil production topped 6 million barrels a day in the first quarter of 2012, which was a 14-year high, according to the Energy Information Administration. Most of the increase was the result of more production in North Dakota, Texas and the Gulf of Mexico.</p><p> </p><p>Oil s decline was tempered by date showing China imported nearly 6 million barrels of crude a day in May. That was about 10 percent more than April and 18 percent more than a year earlier. China is a huge importer of oil and other commodities.</p><p> </p><p>Meanwhile, motorists are continuing to see a steady decline in pump prices. The national average for gasoline fell less than a penny overnight to $3.54 per gallon, according to AAA, Wright Express and the Oil Price Information Service. That s 19 cents less than a year ago. Gas has dropped 50 cents per gallon in a little more than two months.</p><p> </p><p>Natural gas dropped 8.1 cents to $2.218 per 1,000 cubic feet. The price has plunged about 50 cents in three weeks as supplies remain well above normal levels.</p><p> </p><p>In other trading, heating oil fell 3.64 cents to $2.638 per gallon and gasoline dropped 2.86 cent to $2.657 per gallon.<br /> </p>
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| Ukraine beats Sweden 2-1 in European Championship Posted: <p> </p><p>Andriy Shevchenko stole the show from Zlatan Ibrahimovic when he led co-hosts Ukraine to a dramatic 2-1 comeback win over Sweden in their opening Euro 2012 Group D game on Monday (June 11).</p><p> </p><p>The 35-year-old Shevchenko, who battled nagging injuries to claim his place in the starting line-up, twice headed the ball past Andreas Isaksson to cancel out Ibrahimovic s 52nd-minute strike.</p><p> </p><p>Ukraine, taking part in their first European Championship, moved top of Group D with three points, ahead of France and England who fought out a 1-1 draw in Donetsk.</p><p> </p><p>Sweden looked on course for a routine win after a slow start when Ibrahimovic, only standing out up to that point by virtue of his white and pink boots, put his team in front.</p><p> </p><p>Fielded in a free role as a playmaker, Ibrahimovic casually diverted a Kim Kallstrom pass into the net seven minutes into the second half.</p><p> </p><p>Shevchenko, however, hit back three minutes later for Ukraine with a diving header from an Anatoliy Yarmolenko cross as a packed Olympic stadium burst into a huge roar.</p><p> </p><p>The striker doubled his tally in the 61st minute when he headed home from a corner at the near post after losing his marker Ibrahimovic. He was later substituted and left the pitch to a standing ovation before being named man of the match.</p><p> </p><p>Surprisingly it was Ukraine who imposed a possessive pattern in the early stages with neat quick passing around the box but the Swedish defence remained composed.</p><p> </p><p>Sweden, however, looked nothing like the team who scored 31 goals in their qualifying campaign and almost fell behind midway through the first half just when they seemed set to gain control.</p><p> </p><p>Shevchenko, who was substituted before the end of the match, celebrated a match winning performance with Ukrainian coach Oleg Blokhin.<br /> </p>
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| France and England draw 1-1 at Euro 2012 Posted: <p> </p><p>England held on for a 1-1 draw with France on Monday at the European Championship, giving the Group D favorites one point each.</p><p> </p><p>Joleon Lescott put England in the lead with a header in the 30th minute, and Samir Nasri leveled shortly before halftime with a strike into the bottom corner.</p><p> </p><p>Midfielder Yohan Cabaye and striker Karim Benzema almost won the match for France with late efforts, but the draw means France has still not won a match at a major tournament since the 2006 World Cup.</p><p> </p><p>France midfielder Alou Diarra and England midfielder James Milner both came close to scoring in the first half.<br /><br /> </p>
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| Bell recalled to England ODI squad to play Windies Posted: <p> </p><p>Ian Bell was recalled to England s one-day squad on Monday for the three-match series with West Indies following Kevin Pietersen s recent retirement from limited-overs international cricket.</p><p> </p><p>Bell is the only player in the 14-man squad who wasn t part of the England side that beat Pakistan 4-0 in the United Arab Emirates earlier this year. He played the last of his 108 ODIs against India last October.</p><p> </p><p>"Kevin Pietersen s recent decision to retire from one-day cricket means we now start looking at other options available to us as we prepare to defend our ICC World Twenty20 title and look towards next year s ICC Champions Trophy and the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup," said Geoff Miller, England s chairman of selectors.</p><p> </p><p>"We are anticipating a very competitive NatWest Series against West Indies and are looking to continue to build on the progress we made in limited-overs cricket earlier this year against Pakistan."</p><p> </p><p>The series starts Saturday at the Rose Bowl in Southampton. The teams then meet again at The Oval on June 19 and at Headingley on June 22, before playing a Twenty20 international at Trent Bridge on June 24.</p><p> </p><p>England ODI squad: Alastair Cook (captain), James Anderson, Jonny Bairstow, Ian Bell, Ravi Bopara, Tim Bresnan, Stuart Broad, Jade Dernbach, Steven Finn, Craig Kieswetter, Eoin Morgan, Samit Patel, Graeme Swann, Jonathan Trott.</p><p> </p><p>England Twenty20 squad: Stuart Broad, Jonny Bairstow, Ravi Bopara, Tim Bresnan, Danny Briggs, Jos Buttler, Jade Dernbach, Steven Finn, Alex Hales, Craig Kieswetter, Eoin Morgan, Samit Patel, Graeme Swann.<br /> </p>
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| Ramdin fined for Richards' message Posted: <p> </p><p>West Indies wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin was fined 20 per cent of his match fee by the International Cricket Council on Monday for violating its code of conduct during the drawn third test against England at Edgabston.</p><p> </p><p>After making only his second test hundred on day four, Ramdin produced a piece of paper from his pocket and displayed a message that read: "Yeah Viv talk nah."</p><p> </p><p>Ramdin pleaded guilty to a charge of acting "contrary to the spirit of the game" and accepted the punishment Monday.</p><p> </p><p>Ramdin said on Sunday that he d had the paper in his pocket since Saturday morning and that it was a response to criticism from former West Indies great Viv Richards, after he d made just seven runs in two innings in the second test at Trent Bridge.</p><p> </p><p>"Sir Viv had something in the press and I think I got a bit emotional and it came out the way it did," Ramdin said. "Having said that he s a legend of the Caribbean and if I see him I ll still call him out."</p><p> </p><p>Richards responded on BBC radio.</p><p> </p><p>"If you give someone enough chances eventually he will get the job done," he said. "Let s not forget this hundred has been in a losing series. If you re losing a football match 5-0 and you score a goal in the 90th minute, you wouldn t be jumping for joy. I set my standards a little higher than that."</p><p> </p><p>Match referee Roshan Mahanama said the fine was to deter other players.</p><p> </p><p>"It is important that we do not allow a precedent to be set with such a premeditated celebration by Mr Ramdin," Mahanama said. "We all understand the importance of celebrating a milestone, however, one should not use that time as an opportunity to hit out at one s critic or send messages to the world."</p><p> </p><p>"I hope Mr Ramdin has learnt his lesson from this incident and that we will not see such behavior by him or any player in the future when celebrating an achievement within a game of international cricket."</p><p> </p><p>Former West Indies bowler Michael Holding was also critical.</p><p> </p><p>"If I was the manager of the team I would be having a word with that player and he would be getting a fine," he told Sky Sports. "I am not saying this because Viv was my former captain, that is simply unbecoming behavior from a player."<br /> </p>
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| England and West Indies draw third Test Posted: <p> </p><p>Rain had the final say as the third and final Test between England and the West Indies ended in a draw at Edgbaston here on Monday.</p><p> </p><p>In a match where three days out of a possible five were washed out, it was no surprise neither side had got in a position to force victory.</p><p> </p><p>And, after yet more rain, the umpires finally called the game off shortly before 3.15pm local time (1415GMT) following no play at all on the final day.</p><p> </p><p>The draw gave England, who d already retained the Wisden Trophy, a 2-0 win in this three-match series after five-wicket and nine-wicket wins at Lord s and Trent Bridge respectively.</p><p> </p><p>Overnight, England were 221 for five in reply to West Indies first innings 426, a deficit of 205 runs and needing a further 56 to avoid the follow-on.<br />Ian Bell, attempting to become the first Warwickshire batsman to score a Test hundred on his Edgbaston home ground, was left on 76 not out and nightwatchman Steven Finn nought not out.</p><p> </p><p>West Indies total owed much to Tino Best s whirlwind 95, the highest score ever by a Test match No 11 batsman.</p><p> </p><p>Best faced just 112 balls with a six and 14 fours on Sunday s fourth day.</p><p> </p><p>Together with wicket-keeper Denesh Ramdin, who made 107 not out, Best shared a partnership of 143 -- the third highest 10th wicket stand in Test history and a West Indies record.</p><p> </p><p>And, before Sunday s close, fast bowler Best removed both England captain Andrew Strauss and Jonathan Bairstow.</p><p> </p><p>England, with the series already won, controversially chose to rest first-choice new-ball pairing James Anderson and Stuart Broad from this match.</p><p> </p><p>In their places came fellow seamers Graham Onions and Finn.</p><p> </p><p>Durham quick Onions, who two years ago suffered a career-threatening back injury, took four wickets for 88 runs in 29.3 overs, with Finn managing three for 109 in 32.</p><p> </p><p>After this match, England and the West Indies play three one-day internationals and a stand alone Twenty20, starting with Saturday s 50-over clash at Southampton.</p><p> </p><p>The West Indies will warm-up for the limited overs fixtures with a one-day game against Middlesex at Lord s on Wednesday.<br /> </p>
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| NATO supply not halted to raise charges: Sherry Posted: <p><br />The decision had been taken after Nato strike on Salala Check post, she said.</p><p><br />According to sources, Ambassador Rehman said, “On the NATO supplies, the way forward is more related to other issues; we certainly did not close the GLOCs for leveraging a price advantage.”</p><p><br />On the subject of the US’ decision to call back its negotiation team, the Pakistani ambassador said, “I don’t really see it as an institutional pull-out, but really, that question is for the US administration to answer.”</p><p><br />The US negotiation team which spent 45 days in Pakistan to hammer out a deal to resolve issues surrounding reopening of the route. A US official in Washington though said that the team was returning after they had completed their task, with the option of returning as and when required. The US charge d’ affairs too was present in Pakistan to continue working on the deal.</p><p><br />She said that she has repeatedly said that Pakistan wants to be a part of the solution for NATO and the US as they undergo the security transition in Afghanistan, and not an obstacle.</p><p><br />Ambassador Rehman said that the supply routes had not been closed “in a fit of pique or on impulse.”Instead, “These were closed as a decision of the DCC after 24 Pakistani soldiers were martyred at the Salala check post in November last, absent an expression of remorse.”</p><p><br />US Secretary of State Leon Panetta had recently said that Pakistan was trying to extort the US, seeking $5000 per truck that crossed over to Afghanistan from the $250 that was being charged prior to the November 2011 incident. Paneatta had said that the US would not “price gouged”.</p><p><br />“We’re not about to get gouged in the price. We want a fair price,” Panetta said on ABC’s “This Week”, in late May.</p>
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