Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed Friday said he expected a "hard" World Cup opener against the West Indies but found solace in Mohammad Amir returning to wicket-taking ways.
Pakistan were handed a seven-wicket thrashing by the West Indies after being bowled out for 105 in a dismal display of batting. It was Pakistan's 11th ODI loss in a row.
"First of all the start is very crucial here. You know, with the 10:30 start, as I told you before in the last press conference, the start is very crucial for our team. That is why we wanted to bowl first. I think at the start we lost too many wickets. That's why we didn't come back into the game," Sarfaraz said at the post-match press conference.
Some of the batsmen were bounced out while the others fell to poor shot selection.
Asked to comment on Pakistan's pathetic batting performance, the captain said: "We expected a hard game but we knew we have what it takes to play and win. But we lost so many wickets up front when we were batting because of 

We have to back ourselves and not think much about today's loss, says Sarfaraz

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A South Korean newspaper reported Friday that North Korea executed a senior envoy involved in nuclear negotiations with the US as well as four other high-level officials.
But as ever with North Korea, a country that closely guards its secrets, there are reasons to be cautious about the purported purge.
While North Korea hasn't used its propaganda services to comment, the report in the conservative Chosun Ilbo daily could be true.
North Korea has previously executed scapegoats to atone for high-profile political flops, and the most recent summit between leader Kim Jong Un and President Donald Trump ended in failure, leaving Kim embarrassed on the world stage.
But it's important to note that both South Korean media and the government in Seoul have a history of reporting scoops about the inner workings of North Korea that turn out to be wrong.
Supposedly executed officials have later appeared trotting alongside Kim on state TV.
Friday's report is based on a single, unidentified "source ..

Amid report of N Korea purge, there are reasons for caution

Ukraine's Petro Poroshenko retained control over his political party on Friday as the former president and his allies seek to win back support two months before a crucial parliamentary vote.
Last month the pro-Western politician suffered a crushing defeat in presidential elections to comedian Volodymyr Zelensky amid popular anger over the country's separatist war in the east, corruption and poverty.
Poroshenko's party has since launched a major re-branding effort to recover from his ballot box defeat ahead of the snap polls set for July 21.
Last week the party -- called Petro Poroshenko's Bloc Solidarity -- announced it was changing its name to European Solidarity.
Poroshenko was elected leader of the renamed party on Friday.
"I am very grateful to you for electing me head of the European Solidarity party," Poroshenko said minutes after the unanimous vote that was broadcast live by a private Ukrainian channel.
The party -- seen as Poroshenko's political vehicle -- was previously led ..

Ukraine ex-president elected party chief ahead of polls

Pakistan's Opposition leader Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Friday accused the government of targeting everyone from judges to parliamentarians through "underhand tactics" after Parliament witnessed a raucous as two lawmakers were arrested for allegedly inciting an attack on a military check post.
Parliament witnessed unruly scenes lawmakers clashed with each other over the foul language used against Ali Wazir and Mohsin Dawar.
The trouble during the National Assembly session began after minister of state for parliamentary affairs, Ali Muhammad Khan, labelled Wazir and Dawar as "agents of Afghan intelligence" and said they should be expelled from Parliament.
Wazir and Dawar are are accused of inciting local people to attack the Kharqamar military check post in North Waziristan district on Sunday which resulted in the killing of at least three civilians.
Bilawal, the chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), stood up to record protest against Khan's remarks.

Bilwal accuses Pak govt of targeting Opposition, judiciary

Global efforts to impose a unified tax policy on Google, Facebook and other internet giants have cleared a major hurdle ahead of a G20 summit in Japan, officials said Friday.
The Paris-based Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development said that 129 countries had signed off on a roadmap to grab a fairer tax share of the companies' booming sales.
"Important progress has been made through the adoption of this new programme of work, but there is still a tremendous amount of work to do as we seek to reach, by the end of 2020, a unified long-term solution to the tax challenges posed by digitalisation of the economy," OECD secretary-general Angel Gurria said in a statement.
The OECD said Gurria would seek the blessing of G20 finance ministers for the roadmap when they meet in the Japanese city of Fukuoka on June 8-9.
That meeting is in preparation for a full G20 summit involving US President Donald Trump, Chinese President Xi Jinping and their peers in Osaka at the end of June.
The 

G20 digital tax takes step closer

In a surprise announcement that could derail a major trade deal, President Donald Trump says he is placing a 5% tariff on all Mexican imports, effective June 10, to pressure the country to do more to crack down on the surge of Central American migrants trying to cross the U.S. border.
He said the percentage will gradually increase  up to 25%  "until the Illegal Immigration problem is remedied."
The decision showed the administration going to new lengths, and looking for new levers, to pressure Mexico to take action  even if those risk upending other policy priorities, like the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, a trade deal that is the cornerstone of Trump's legislative agenda and seen as beneficial to his reelection effort.
It also risks further damaging the already strained relationship between the US and Mexico, two countries whose economies are deeply intertwined.
Trump made the announcement by tweet after telling reporters earlier Thursday that he was planning "a major ...

Trump gets pushback on promise of new Mexican tariffs

The UN atomic watchdog said Friday Iran continues to stay within the limitations set by the nuclear deal reached in 2015 with major powers, though its stockpiles of low-enriched uranium and heavy water are growing.
In a confidential quarterly report distributed to member states and seen by The Associated Press, the International Atomic Energy Agency said Iran has stayed within key limitations set in the so-called Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or JCPOA.
The deal is meant to keep Tehran from building atomic weapons in exchange for economic incentives. It has been complicated by the unilateral withdrawal of the United States last year and Washington's increased sanctions, which has been taking a toll on the Iranian economy.
That has left the other signatories  Germany, Britain, France, Russia and China  struggling to come up with enough incentives to keep Iran in the deal.
Earlier this month, Iran announced that if a way couldn't be found within 60 days to shield it from US ...

UN atomic agency: Iran in compliance with 2015 nuclear deal

World Cup organisers Friday apologised to fans who faced long queues here at the Trent Bridge, the venue for the tournament's second game, between Pakistan and the West Indies.
"We would like to apologise to any fans caught up in queues here at Trent Bridge today. We will be offering a full refund to anyone who was impacted by the delays because of the high volume of ticket collections. This will happen automatically based on data from our ticket scanners along with time of ticket issue from the box office," said the ICC in a release.
"We are currently working with Ticketmaster to resolve all outstanding issues and have put in place a number of measures to ensure fans don't suffer this inconvenience at future games. This includes the introduction of a print at home ticket and improved distribution methods at the venues," it added.
The West Indies thrashed Pakistan by seven wickets to begin their tournament campaign on an emphatic note.
World Cup managing director Steve Elworthy, too, .

World Cup organisers apologise to fans for ticketing troubles

India's Diksha Dagar finished Tied-19 after adding 75 and 72 in the final two rounds of the Lavaux Ladies Championship on the Ladies European Tour's Access Series, the second rung Tour.
Dagar, who had a first round of 70 and was Tied-sixth, finished with a total of one-over 214.
Other Indian in fray, Astha Madan finished T-36 with rounds of 76, 72 and 72 to be four-over 217.
Spain's Maria Beautell (68) at six-under 207 achieved a breakthrough LETAS win by one shot victory over Finland's Sanna Nuutinen (69) and England's Rachael Taylor (70).

Diksha finished 19th in Switzerland, Astha 36th

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte expressed deep concerns Friday about the escalating US-China trade war and its impact on the global economy, including that of his country.
Duterte, who is visiting Japan for talks with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, says a protracted dispute would shrink world trade and investment.
He told reporters that the trade war is creating uncertainty and tension, adding, "There must be a resolution soon."
Duterte also urged more foreign investment in the Philippines, claiming he has eradicated corruption and that investments are safe. "In my term, (our money) is safe... There is no corruption. I have killed all of them already," he said jokingly.
The brash populist leader has campaigned against illegal drugs and corruption, while being accused of massive human rights violations because of the deaths of thousands of mostly poor suspects in his anti-drug war.
Duterte, midway through the single six-year term Philippine presidents are allowed, solidified his grip .

Duterte wary over US-China trade war, wants it resolved soon

Syria is rejecting the final statement of the Arab emergency summit held in Saudi Arabia, which criticises what it calls Iranian intervention into Syrian affairs.
Syria says the statement is an unacceptable interference in the internal affairs of Syria.
A Syrian Foreign Ministry statement said the Iranian presence is "legitimate because it came at the request of the Syrian government and contributed to support Syria's efforts in combating terrorism supported by some of the participants in this summit."
The Syrian statement said the summit should instead condemn the involvement of other countries in Syrian affairs, "which lacked legitimacy and legality" and provided "unlimited support in various forms to terrorist groups and prolonging the crisis in Syria.

Syria rejects Arab summit statement on Iran intervention

Rahil Gangjee survived a scare on the back nine to card one-over 73 and make the halfway cut at the Gateway to the Open Mizuno Open here Friday.
Gangjee squeezed into the weekend rounds on the cutline at tied 57th spot.
The top four in this event qualify for the Open in Ireland in July.
Gangjee, who shot 74 in the first round, started from the 10th and birdied 14th and 16th before dropping a bogey on 17th to turn in one-under.
A birdie on third meant he was two-under for the day and even for the tournament and in comfortable position to make the cut.
Then he bogeyed fourth and fifth and yet another on ninth to go to three-over. But he made the cut, which fell on three-over.
Shugo Imahira shot 67 at The Royal Country Club to take a two-shot lead and take sole lead.
Shugo, who has never made the cut in his last five Major appearances, will be playing all four Majors this season for the first time. Imahira is leading at eight under 136.
The 21-year-old Young-Woong Kim of Korea played ...

Gangjee makes cut on the line in Japan

India's Aditi Ashok turned in a one-over 72 to lie tied 62nd after the opening day of the US Women's Open, one of the five Majors in women's golf.
Aditi had two birdies on fifth and 12th, but dropped shots on second, eighth and 11th.
This is the second of the women's Majors, and Aditi missed the cut in the first one, the ANA Inspiration.
The players played in sticky, humid conditions, forcing the players to drink a lot of water. The  Conditions are expected to remain similar through Sunday.
Japan's Mamiko Higa carded the lowest round in a US Women's Open debut as she came back with a flawless six-under 65 that put her one ahead of American amateur Gina Kim and Germany's Esther Henseleit.
Celine Boutier of France, another top European star, shot 67.
The 25-year-old Higa has won five times on the Japan LPGA Tour, including a victory in March, but away from golf, she became famous after her marriage to Japanese sumo wrestler Ikiori and the two share birthdays on October 11.
She qualified 

Aditi Ashok lies way behind in US Women's Open

New Sri Lanka skipper Dimuth Karunaratne said his struggling side has received timely advice from former greats including Kumar Sangakkara ahead of their World Cup opener against New Zealand here on Saturday.
Sri Lanka, who won the tournament in 1996 before making consecutive finals in 2007 and 2011, enter the 2019 edition on a difficult recent run of form.
They are ranked ninth among the ten teams competing here in England and Wales, have been whitewashed 5-0 four times in three years. They called up Karunaratne to skipper the side, despite the opener not playing an ODI for his country in four years.
But the likes of Arjuna Ranatunga  captain of the 1996 champions  and Kumar Sangakkara have given this squad their backing.
"Sanga came and gave us some words of advice which was really helpful, he did really well in the last World Cup so it was useful to hear how he prepared, mentally and everything else," he said here on Friday.
"Arjuna who lifted the World Cup in 1996, he spoke to us .

Struggling Sri Lanka get much-needed pep talk from Sanga, Mahela ahead of WC opener

A host of Indian enterprises and individuals with a global outlook were honoured with the first-ever Global Indian Business Excellence Awards at the UK Houses of Parliament complex in London on Thursday.
The awards, collated following a market research study, are aimed at identifying and recognising the fastest growing Indian organisations and entrepreneurs across a range of industries.
Some of the key winners of the inaugural awards included technocrat Kapil Jain, head of technology and strategy at Vistara airlines in India, who was awarded in the Leadership and Innovation in IT Consulting and Advisory Services category.
Bangalore's Reva University was named the most preferred university providing global environment to international Students.
Former Naval commander and educationist Kartikay Saini was honoured as the social change maker & educationist of the year and Dr Minnie Bodhiwala, CEO of Bai Jerbai Wadia hospital for children, won the iconic business personality of the ...

Indian enterprises win awards for excellence in UK

Anirban Lahiri fired a superb five-under 67 to lie tied third while Shubhankar Sharma carded one-over 73 for a lowly Tied 64th spot after the opening day of the Memorial Tournament here Friday.
While Lahiri had a brilliant back nine, including a hat-trick of birdies, Sharma started his back nine with three bogeys in a row from 10th to 12th and a fourth one on 14th.
Sharma started early in second round, while Lahiri plays late.
Moore opened with five birdies in seven holes and had a great day finding fairways after missing the first one. He posted seven-under 65 for his best start ever at Muirfield Village.
He was one shot ahead of Jordan Spieth, who chipped in for birdie, chipped in for par and holed a 35-foot eagle putt.
Spieth sits one stroke off the 18-hole lead for the second week in a row
Tiger Woods birdied three of his last five holes to shoot two-under 70 and was sitting at T-23.
Defending champion Bryson DeChambeau carded T78 after an opening-round 74.
Lahiri was tied third ..

Lahiri lies Tied 3rd; Sharma Tied 64th at Memorial Tournament

Legendary all-rounder Jacques Kallis feels South Africa can "go deep into the tournament" despite their crushing loss to overwhelming favourites England in the World Cup opener.
Ben Stokes shone with the bat and ball besides pulling off one of the greatest catches in World Cup history to engineer England's 104-run thrashing of South Africa at the Oval on Thursday.
"It was never going to be easy playing England in the very first game but I've seen nothing to change my mind that South Africa can go deep in this tournament," Kallis wrote in a column for the ICC.
"They will be hard on themselves when they look back on the game, there were too many soft dismissals for my liking, but there was nothing wrong with their performance that cannot be rectified."
Kallis had earlier said that not entering the tournament as favourites could work in South Africa's favour.
The 43-year-old added, "This format allows you to make a slower start, it's a long tournament and playing everyone evens things ...

SA can still go deep into tournament, pressure will only increase on England: Kallis

More than 200,000 Muslims took part in the final Friday prayers of Ramadan at Al-Aqsa mosque compound in the Old City of annexed east Jerusalem, as Israel heightened security following a Palestinian stabbing attack.
The religious authority in charge of the compound, the third holiest site in Islam, said in total 260,000 worshippers took part in the lunchtime prayers.
The prayers came only hours after a Palestinian teenager stabbed two Israelis inside the Old City before being shot dead by Israeli security.
In a separate incident, another Palestinian teenager was shot dead by Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank as he sought to sneak into Jerusalem, reportedly to pray at Al-Aqsa.
In Jerusalem itself, a 19-year-old Palestinian stabbed one Israeli near the Damascus Gate and another near Jaffa Gate on the other side of the walled Old City, police spokesman Mickey Rosenfeld said.
One of the Israelis was in a critical condition and the other suffered serious wounds, he said.
"Police ...

200,000 pray at Jerusalem mosque after stabbing attack

A leading Indian entrepreneur who heads the world's largest outsourcing and technology services specialist for governments and diplomatic missions has been named a Global Game Changer at an awards ceremony in London.
Zubin Karkaria, founder and CEO of VFS Global, was presented with the honour by Commonwealth Secretary General Patricia Scotland at the Indian Awards event held in the UK Houses of Parliament complex this week.
While VFS Global has been working with UK Visas and Immigration since 2003 in supporting their vision and agenda across the world, I would also like to acknowledge the role of the travel industry in the continuous development of UK-India relations, said Karkaria.
Driving business excellence through continuous innovation and the highest levels of customer service have been at the core of VFS Global's philosophy ever since we launched our company in 2001, and prestigious awards such as this one keep us motivated in our quest to constantly raise the bar, said the CEO, 

Indian entrepreneur named Global Game Changer in UK

Confusion mixed with despair in Afghanistan Friday after former president Hamid Karzai mistakenly declared that the Taliban had announced a new ceasefire in the war-torn country.
The Taliban were quick to dismiss reports of the truce minutes after Karzai made the announcement on Facebook, saying the former president appeared to be referring to a message about last year's Eid holiday ceasefire.
"It is hoped that media and social media users do not become victims of (this) mistake," said Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid.
Many Afghans -- exhausted by decades of war and violence -- have pinned their hopes on another truce for the next week's Eif holiday, marking the end of Ramadan.
Karzai's announcement unleashed a brief spell of confusion across the country, with media outlets firing off tweets and breaking news reports announcing the alleged truce.
"Former Afghan president shame on you for posting baseless news," wrote Facebook user Amanullah Kamran.
"You are making fun of yourself .

Former Afghan leader mistakenly claims new Taliban truce

Iran's President Hassan Rouhani has sent a message to a summit of Muslim countries saying they need to remain focused on the Palestinian issue.
In a letter published on the presidential website Friday, Rouhani said Muslim leaders should not let the occupation of Palestine be "marginalized" in the face of the Trump administration's forthcoming peace plan.
Glimpses of the still undisclosed plan suggest it sidelines or ignores the longstanding goal of Palestinian independence.
Rouhani, while complaining about not being invited to the summit, expressed his country's readiness to accompany and collaborate with all Muslim leaders to confront the so-called "Deal of the Century".
Iran's foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, without naming any country, also condemned some Arab leaders for siding with Israel.
The Deal of the Century is likely to include large-scale investment and infrastructure work in the Palestinian territories, much of it funded by wealthy Arab countries. Zarif's remarks ...

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