Seven Afghan police killed in Taliban raid

At least seven policemen were killed and one wounded during an insurgent attack in southern Afghan province of Uruzgan, an official said on Wednesday.

The militants attacked a police checkpoint in the Khas Uruzgan district late Tuesday night, Uruzgan governor Haji Khodai Rahim told AFP.

Rahim said that seven policemen were killed and an eighth had gone with the insurgents in the wake of the overnight attack, raising fears of an inside job.

“This was a plot,” Rahim said.

“The eighth soldier who was on guard, had links with Taliban, he directed the militants into the check point.”

One soldier was also seriously wounded in the overnight attack.

A spokesman for Taliban, Qari Yousuf Ahmadi, said their fighters killed eight policemen and seized weapons from all those who manned the checkpoint.

Australia all out for 223, India needs 207 to win

BANGALORE: Australia were all out for 223 in their second innings, setting India a 207-run target to win the second and final test on Wednesday.

Resuming on 202 for seven, the last three Australian batsmen added 21 runs to their overnight score before losing their wickets inside the opening hour.

Zaheer Khan claimed two of the last three wickets to finish with figures of three for 41, while Shanthakumaran Sreesanth got the other. India lead the series 1-0. AGENCIES

Tendulkar and Vijay flay Aussies in second Test

BANGLORE: Sachin Tendulkar smashed his 49th Test century and Murali Vijay his first as India matched Australia’s batting prowess in the second and final Test on Monday.

Australia managed just three wickets as the hosts took their overnight score of 128-2 to 435-5 by stumps on the third day at the Chinnaswamy stadium in Bangalore.

India, who lead 1-0 in the short series after winning the first Test in Mohali by one wicket, are 43 runs away from Australia’s 478, with five wickets in hand.

Tendulkar finished the day unbeaten on a monumental 191 and opener Vijay scored 139 during a record stand of 308 runs for the third wicket — a remarkable recovery from 38-2 in Sunday’s last session.

It was the highest third-wicket partnership in India-Australia Tests, surpassing the 222-run stand between Aussies Allan Border and Kim Hughes in Chennai in

Tendulkar leads India reply with 49th test century

BANGALORE: Sachin Tendulkar hit his 49th test century to help India reach 224 for two at lunch on the third day of the second and final test against Australia on Monday.

Resuming on 128 for two, Tendulkar hit a six off Nathan Hauritz to reach the century mark and was unbeaten on 106.

The other overnight batsman, Murali Vijay, was 73 not out having added 186 runs for the third wicket.

Tendulkar, who became the first man to score 14,000 test runs on Sunday, was in sublime form with boundaries flowing from his blade. He hit two fours off the day’s first over from Hauritz. AGENCIES

North, Tendulkar light up second day’s play

BANGALORE: India’s Sachin Tendulkar passed another major milestone but a dogged century from Australian Marcus North put the touring side in control of the second test on Sunday.

North’s career-best 128 was the cornerstone of the Australian first innings which folded for 478 at tea on day two, but not before their lower half had added 193 runs to their overnight score of 285 for five wickets.

In reply, India made a feeble start, losing the explosive Virender Sehwag (30) and bail-out specialist Rahul Dravid (one) in quick succession.

Tendulkar remained unbeaten on 44 with opener Murali Vijay (42) at the other end with India still trailing Australia by 350 runs.

Playing his 171st test, Tendulkar became the first batsman to amass 14,000 test runs in the 27th over of the Indian innings, hitting off-spinner Nathan Hauritz for a boundary.

Earlier,

North, Paine swing momentum back to Australia

BANGALORE: Unbeaten half-centuries by Marcus North and Tim Paine propelled Australia to 384 for five wickets at lunch on the second day of the second and final test against India on Sunday.

Resuming on 285, both the overnight batsmen frustrated the Indian bowlers with a 128-run stand for the sixth wicket in a lop-sided session.

North had 81 at the break with Paine on 52.

For the second successive day, Australia, who trail the series 1-0, dominated the morning session, scoring freely without loss.

North played with maturity and looked solid both against the pacers and spinners. He slog-swept Pragyan Ojha for the first six of the match.

Paine’s was a slightly more eventful knock in which he struck two fours off a Shanthakumaran Sreesanth over and was caught behind off a no-ball by the pacer before he brought up his second test 50 with a cheeky

Flood enters Kotri Barrage

Staff Report

HYDERABAD: A high flood tide has entered the Kotri Barrage raising fears that it may devastate the low-lying areas of Sajawal, Shehdadkot, Hyderabad and Thatta.

According to the Control Room, water inflow into Kotri Barrage has been recorded at 4,95,900 cusecs while the outflow is at 4,68,500 cusecs.

Another flood tide is likely to pass through the barrage on August 25.

Several villages located in the outskirts of Jamshoro have been submerged in water, while kacha areas of Latifabad, Sehrishnagar, Qasimabad and Husainabad are also facing flood threat.

Water levels have started to drop in Guddu and Sukkur barrages. SAMAA

Two security men shot dead in Mastung

Staff Report

MASTUNG: Two security personnel have been killed in a drive-by shooting in the Mastung District of Balochistan, police said on Thursday.

The deceased, Abdullah Tareen and Muhammad Zahid, were returning to their camp after buying Iftari items when two unknown assailants riding a bike opened indiscriminate fire on them.

They were rushed to a nearby hospital in critical condition. However, they succumbed to their injuries.

President promises to rebuild flood-hit homes

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari said Thursday the world must act swiftly to stop militants exploiting the country’s devastating floods and to prevent social unrest.

Addressing a joint press conference along with US Senator John Kerry here at Chaklala Air Base after visiting flood affected areas of Jampur, President Zardari said to the world “We need to address that, all of us rapidly, to avoid their impatience boiling over or people exploiting that impatience.”

President Zardari said the world is slowly and gradually realizing that it is not a one day job, it is not a one country issue, it is an huge problem and its a huge catastrophe adding “I think the world is standing with us.”

The President said, “We are giving them everything we’ve got. There is a possibility that some negative forces would exploit this situation.”

He said, for example

Swann double checks Pakistan’s progress

LONDON: Graeme Swann once more took wickets early in his spell to leave Pakistan 111 for four at lunch on the second day of the third Test at The Oval here on Thursday.

That meant the tourists were 122 runs behind England’s first innings 233.

Off-spinner Swann, with only his second ball Thursday, had recalled opener Yasir Hameed caught behind for his overnight score of 36.

And Swann then removed stubborn nightwatchman Wahab Riaz for 27 when the impressive debutant was lbw on the sweep to the first ball of the bowler’s second spell.

Swann, who took two wickets for seven runs in 24 balls, had figures at lunch of two for 12 in seven overs.

Riaz, who bats right-handed but is a left-arm quick, resisted for nearly two hours after leading the attack with five for 63 after Pakistan lost the toss on Wednesday.

Recalled former captain Mohammad

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