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/ 15 May 2008

Little-known group claims deadly India bombings

A little-known militant group called the Indian Mujahedin claimed responsibility for setting off bombs in the western Indian city of Jaipur that killed 61 people and injured 216 people this week, police said. A video clip sent by email to national media showed one packet strapped on the back of a bicycle. The email said that the packet contained a bomb.

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/ 18 November 2007

Twenty20 will transform players, says Chappell

Twenty20 cricket will place higher physical demands and mental toughness on players than one-day cricket did when it began in the 1970s, according to former Australian skipper Greg Chappell. Chappell, who quit as India coach in March following their one-day World Cup debacle, is back in the country to head an academy for players discovered on a nationwide talent contest.

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/ 2 November 2006

Gayle powers Windies into final

Chris Gayle smashed 133 not out to power holders West Indies into their third Champions Trophy final with a six-wicket victory over South Africa on Thursday. The 27-year-old Jamaican stroked his third hundred of the tournament after a 154-run opening partnership with fellow left-hander Shivnarine Chanderpaul to guide West Indies to 262-4 in 44 overs in reply to South Africa’s 258-8.

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/ 1 November 2006

Smith: We must adapt to conditions

South Africa skipper Graeme Smith said on Wednesday adaptability would be the key to success against an unpredictable West Indies in the Champions Trophy semifinal. ”The unpredictable nature can count against them, but it can also be a major bonus for them. The key for us is to adapt to the conditions better than the other team,” Smith said ahead of Thursday’s match.

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/ 31 October 2006

SA hope batsmen will finally shine

South Africa go into the ICC Champions Trophy semifinal on Thursday hoping their batting line-up will back up their fast bowlers against a resurgent West Indies. Fast bowlers spared South African blushes in the last two games against Sri Lanka and Pakistan, with Makhaya Ntini and Shaun Pollock playing key roles in their team’s wins.

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/ 18 October 2006

Razzaq masterminds Pakistan’s stunning win

Abdul Razzaq put in a superb all-round show as doping-hit Pakistan turned the formbook upside down with a four-wicket win over Sri Lanka in a Champions Trophy match on Tuesday. Pakistan did a commendable job when they restricted Sri Lanka to 253 despite missing key pacemen Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif, who returned home on Monday after failing dope tests.

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/ 16 October 2006

Flintoff searches for positives after loss against India

England captain Andrew Flintoff was pleased with the way his team fought back in a low-scoring four-wicket loss against India in the opening Group A limited-overs international of the ICC Champions Trophy on Sunday. ”I am pleased with the character we showed,” said Flintoff, who returned to lead the England side after spending six months on the sidelines due to an ankle surgery.

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/ 12 October 2006

Ton-up Gayle powers Windies into main draw

Chris Gayle smashed an attractive century as the West Indies stormed into the Champions Trophy main draw with a 10-wicket win over hapless Bangladesh in a qualifying match on Wednesday. The left-hander hit an unbeaten 104 for his 13th century and Shivnarine Chanderpaul made 52 not out as Brian Lara’s team made a mockery of Bangladesh’s total of 161, winning with 13.2 overs to spare.

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/ 21 August 2006

Floods kill 33 in India

Heavy rains and floods have killed 33 people in the western Indian state of Rajasthan over the last three days, authorities said on Monday. Over 1 500 villages and several towns had been cut off by the rising waters, schools and colleges ordered shut in the lake city of Udaipur and electricity and telephone networks disrupted across the region, they said.

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/ 5 April 2005

Trunk tales — lessons in elephant management

If you own an elephant and don’t know how to keep it happy, you could learn a few lessons from Parbati Barua, Asia’s only female mahout (elephant handler).
Did you know that elephants have a ”sour tooth”, with a particular liking for tamarind? Or that they enjoy a daily, hour-long massage, preferably in a circular motion with a pumice stone?