Advani must step down from post but guide party

The long, noisy crisis in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has witnessed one surprising element. One man's voice has not been heard at all. LK Advani, one of the senior most leaders of BJP and Leader of Opposition is silent even though he has been facing attack after attack from within the party. From Jaswant Singh to Arun Shourie and even Brajesh Mishra, Advani has had guns trained on him, showcasing a serious erosion of his power.The unceremonious sacking of Jaswant Singh from the BJP for writing a book praising Pakistan's founder Mohammad Ali Jinnah has added to Advani's problems. Singh has claimed that he had stood by Advani through the controversy created after he (Advani) called Jinnah a secular person.Advani's credibility took further beating when former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's...

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Advani must step down from post but guide party

The long, noisy crisis in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has witnessed one surprising element. One man's voice has not been heard at all. LK Advani, one of the senior most leaders of BJP and Leader of Opposition is silent even though he has been facing attack after attack from within the party. From Jaswant Singh to Arun Shourie and even Brajesh Mishra, Advani has had guns trained on him, showcasing a serious erosion of his power.The unceremonious sacking of Jaswant Singh from the BJP for writing a book praising Pakistan's founder Mohammad Ali Jinnah has added to Advani's problems. Singh has claimed that he had stood by Advani through the controversy created after he (Advani) called Jinnah a secular person.Advani's credibility took further beating when former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's...

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India win thrilling Nehru Cup final

India triumph over Syria via tie-breaker to defend their Nehru Cup title on Monday night. Football does that you. You chew your nails, you skip a beat and you play havoc with your blood pressure. More so, when the Indian team takes to the ground for an encounter like Nehru Cup final.It wasn’t any different this Monday as well. Emotions were at their wildest best as Syria’s Hamzeh Alattouni missed the penalty and India defended their Nehru Cup title in style.As India triumphed 6-5 over the last edition’s runners-up Syria, fans jumped the barriers and ran onto the field to congratulate their heroes of the day. And, at that moment even the police personnel were rendered helpless.Match action in picsAfter both the teams failed to reach a conclusion...

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India win thrilling Nehru Cup final

India triumph over Syria via tie-breaker to defend their Nehru Cup title on Monday night. Football does that you. You chew your nails, you skip a beat and you play havoc with your blood pressure. More so, when the Indian team takes to the ground for an encounter like Nehru Cup final.It wasn’t any different this Monday as well. Emotions were at their wildest best as Syria’s Hamzeh Alattouni missed the penalty and India defended their Nehru Cup title in style.As India triumphed 6-5 over the last edition’s runners-up Syria, fans jumped the barriers and ran onto the field to congratulate their heroes of the day. And, at that moment even the police personnel were rendered helpless.Match action in picsAfter both the teams failed to reach a conclusion...

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India tops H1N1 mortality rate

India tops H1N1 mortality rateWith 100 deaths in 3,987 laboratory confirmed positive H1N1 cases, India has registered a mortality rate of 2.3 per cent — much above the 0.9 per cent mortality rate for the rest of the world.According to the World Health Organization (WHO), as on August 21, there have been 1,799 deaths in total 182,000 laboratory confirmed cases across the world, which makes 0.9 per cent the mortality rate across the world.“The 2.3 per cent mortality rate is higher compared to the rest of the world, but we are the only country which is looking at laboratory confirmed cases as positive. Other countries are not testing and have included people with flu-like symptoms as positive,” said Dr S K Srivastava, Director General of Health Services.With 584 deaths, Brazil tops the list of...

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India tops H1N1 mortality rate

India tops H1N1 mortality rateWith 100 deaths in 3,987 laboratory confirmed positive H1N1 cases, India has registered a mortality rate of 2.3 per cent — much above the 0.9 per cent mortality rate for the rest of the world.According to the World Health Organization (WHO), as on August 21, there have been 1,799 deaths in total 182,000 laboratory confirmed cases across the world, which makes 0.9 per cent the mortality rate across the world.“The 2.3 per cent mortality rate is higher compared to the rest of the world, but we are the only country which is looking at laboratory confirmed cases as positive. Other countries are not testing and have included people with flu-like symptoms as positive,” said Dr S K Srivastava, Director General of Health Services.With 584 deaths, Brazil tops the list of...

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Advani buys time to quit, but he has to go

New Delhi: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) veterans L K Advani and Rajnath Singh will be replaced by younger party leaders by the end of December, sources tell CNN-IBN.The BJP has negotiated a succession plan with the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS), the party’s ideological guide, according to which Advani will step down as Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha. He will be allowed to choose his time and he is likely to step down before the next Parliament session.Party leader Sushma Swaraj is likely to take replace Advani, who will be the chairperson of BJP's parliamentary party.Arun Jaitley will continue as Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha--he is not getting the party president’s post as was being speculated earlier. Once Rajnath Singh completes his term in December a new BJP president...

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Advani buys time to quit, but he has to go

New Delhi: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) veterans L K Advani and Rajnath Singh will be replaced by younger party leaders by the end of December, sources tell CNN-IBN.The BJP has negotiated a succession plan with the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS), the party’s ideological guide, according to which Advani will step down as Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha. He will be allowed to choose his time and he is likely to step down before the next Parliament session.Party leader Sushma Swaraj is likely to take replace Advani, who will be the chairperson of BJP's parliamentary party.Arun Jaitley will continue as Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha--he is not getting the party president’s post as was being speculated earlier. Once Rajnath Singh completes his term in December a new BJP president...

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Raje likely to step down

Former Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje on Monday skipped a scheduled meeting with senior BJP leader M Venkaiah Naidu to convey when she would step down as leader opposition in Rajasthan assembly in pursuant of the party’s directive. Instead, Raje sent her son and engaged her son Dushyant Singh as her emissary to meet Naidu.Dushyant, who is BJP MP from Jhalawar, held an hour-long meeting with and is understood to have discussed with him where Raje will be accommodated in the organization once she submits her resignation and is said to have put forth Raje's demands.For the record Raje was unwell, and she would not be able to meet any senior leader on Monday. However, Raje may call on LK Advani on Tuesday and after hearing from the leadership about...

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Raje likely to step down

Former Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje on Monday skipped a scheduled meeting with senior BJP leader M Venkaiah Naidu to convey when she would step down as leader opposition in Rajasthan assembly in pursuant of the party’s directive. Instead, Raje sent her son and engaged her son Dushyant Singh as her emissary to meet Naidu.Dushyant, who is BJP MP from Jhalawar, held an hour-long meeting with and is understood to have discussed with him where Raje will be accommodated in the organization once she submits her resignation and is said to have put forth Raje's demands.For the record Raje was unwell, and she would not be able to meet any senior leader on Monday. However, Raje may call on LK Advani on Tuesday and after hearing from the leadership about...

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Dalai Lama visits Taiwan typhoon victims amid Chinese anger

The Dalai Lama headed for typhoon hit areas of southern Taiwan on Monday on the first full day of a tour that China has warned will hurt improving ties with the island.The exiled Tibetan spiritual leader headed straight for Hsiaolin, a village where at least 424 people died in Typhoon Morakot, cancelling a press conference that local officials feared could have angered Beijing."I'm a monk. I was asked to say prayers for peace," the Dalai Lama said late Sunday after arriving in Taiwan from India. "There is no politics. This is humanitarian in nature."However, shortly after the Dalai Lama's arrival, the Chinese government issued its second stern criticism of the trip, warning that it would bring about a setback in cross-strait ties."The Dalai...

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Dalai Lama visits Taiwan typhoon victims amid Chinese anger

The Dalai Lama headed for typhoon hit areas of southern Taiwan on Monday on the first full day of a tour that China has warned will hurt improving ties with the island.The exiled Tibetan spiritual leader headed straight for Hsiaolin, a village where at least 424 people died in Typhoon Morakot, cancelling a press conference that local officials feared could have angered Beijing."I'm a monk. I was asked to say prayers for peace," the Dalai Lama said late Sunday after arriving in Taiwan from India. "There is no politics. This is humanitarian in nature."However, shortly after the Dalai Lama's arrival, the Chinese government issued its second stern criticism of the trip, warning that it would bring about a setback in cross-strait ties."The Dalai...

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Hunted In The Brigand’s Shadow

Five years after his death, Veerappan’s widow is suddenly implicated in cases where her husband was the main accused. PC VIIN A midnight operation last November, three Karnataka police jeeps surrounded a woman’s house in Mettur, Tamil Nadu. That woman was Muthulakshmi, the widow of notorious forest brigand Veerappan. Muthulakshmi, who had turned into a human rights activist after her husband’s death, was bundled into a jeep and taken to MM Hills Police Station in the Chamrajnagar district of Karnataka. She was produced in court the next day. The police later clarified that she had been arrested in connection with some old cases against her.Muthulakshmi has been in jail for nearly nine months now, charged under various sections of the IPC, the...

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Hunted In The Brigand’s Shadow

Five years after his death, Veerappan’s widow is suddenly implicated in cases where her husband was the main accused. PC VIIN A midnight operation last November, three Karnataka police jeeps surrounded a woman’s house in Mettur, Tamil Nadu. That woman was Muthulakshmi, the widow of notorious forest brigand Veerappan. Muthulakshmi, who had turned into a human rights activist after her husband’s death, was bundled into a jeep and taken to MM Hills Police Station in the Chamrajnagar district of Karnataka. She was produced in court the next day. The police later clarified that she had been arrested in connection with some old cases against her.Muthulakshmi has been in jail for nearly nine months now, charged under various sections of the IPC, the...

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11 more test positive for swine flu in Kerala

THIRUVANATHAPURAM: With 11 more persons testing positive for H1N1 virus in Kerala, the total number of confirmed swine flu cases in the state hasgone up to 161. Of the new cases reported on Wednesday, five were from Malappuram, three from Kozhikode and one each from Alappuzha, Thrissur and Pathanamthitta, health officials said here today. At present, 36 persons are in isolation wards at various hospitals in the state, while eight patients are in Intensive Care Units, they said. A total of 6,120 persons, including 53 persons who voluntarily turned up for tests, were screened at various government hospitals in Kerala for H1N1 virus yesterday, the officials said. The others were passengers who arrived at the three international airports in the state, they said. Meanwhile, state health officials...

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11 more test positive for swine flu in Kerala

THIRUVANATHAPURAM: With 11 more persons testing positive for H1N1 virus in Kerala, the total number of confirmed swine flu cases in the state hasgone up to 161. Of the new cases reported on Wednesday, five were from Malappuram, three from Kozhikode and one each from Alappuzha, Thrissur and Pathanamthitta, health officials said here today. At present, 36 persons are in isolation wards at various hospitals in the state, while eight patients are in Intensive Care Units, they said. A total of 6,120 persons, including 53 persons who voluntarily turned up for tests, were screened at various government hospitals in Kerala for H1N1 virus yesterday, the officials said. The others were passengers who arrived at the three international airports in the state, they said. Meanwhile, state health officials...

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Kandhar trade-off: Advani knew, says Brajesh

Zeenews Bureau New Delhi: In a startling disclosure, former national security advisor (NSA) Brajesh Mishra claimed on Thursday that LK Advani was in the loop regarding all the key decisions taken with regard to the hijacking of an Indian Airlines plane to Kandahar in Afghanistan. Mishra rebutted Advani’s contention that he was unaware about IC-814 being taken from Amritsar to Kandahar by terrorists. He also rejected the view that Advani did not know that a cabinet minister (Jaswant Singh) would be flying to Kandahar to secure the release of the hostages in exchange for the three most wanted terrorists. Speaking on the issue, Mishra said that a proposal was made in the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) that Jaswant Singh should go and bring back the hostages and it was agreed by the CCS....

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Kandhar trade-off: Advani knew, says Brajesh

Zeenews Bureau New Delhi: In a startling disclosure, former national security advisor (NSA) Brajesh Mishra claimed on Thursday that LK Advani was in the loop regarding all the key decisions taken with regard to the hijacking of an Indian Airlines plane to Kandahar in Afghanistan. Mishra rebutted Advani’s contention that he was unaware about IC-814 being taken from Amritsar to Kandahar by terrorists. He also rejected the view that Advani did not know that a cabinet minister (Jaswant Singh) would be flying to Kandahar to secure the release of the hostages in exchange for the three most wanted terrorists. Speaking on the issue, Mishra said that a proposal was made in the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) that Jaswant Singh should go and bring back the hostages and it was agreed by the CCS....

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Shourie only has to clarify comments

New Delhi: Arun Shourie's attack on Monday was described as "gross indiscipline" by BJP spokesperson Rajiv Pratap Rudy and by the head of the party's disciplinary committee Ram Naik. However, on Tuesday, the BJP decided against expulsion, suspension or even giving a show-cause notice to Shourie. All he has to do is "clarify" whatever he has said about the party. Shourie had said that the BJP was being run as a "private party" and wanted a total revamp beginning with the top leadership. He had suggested that the RSS take charge of the BJP's affairs. He even criticised the expulsion of Jaswant Singh and called his book on Pakistan's founder Jinnah a "scholarly work". He also dared the party to expel him if it wanted to.On Tuesday afternoon, BJP office bearers held a meeting chaired by BJP president...

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Shourie only has to clarify comments

New Delhi: Arun Shourie's attack on Monday was described as "gross indiscipline" by BJP spokesperson Rajiv Pratap Rudy and by the head of the party's disciplinary committee Ram Naik. However, on Tuesday, the BJP decided against expulsion, suspension or even giving a show-cause notice to Shourie. All he has to do is "clarify" whatever he has said about the party. Shourie had said that the BJP was being run as a "private party" and wanted a total revamp beginning with the top leadership. He had suggested that the RSS take charge of the BJP's affairs. He even criticised the expulsion of Jaswant Singh and called his book on Pakistan's founder Jinnah a "scholarly work". He also dared the party to expel him if it wanted to.On Tuesday afternoon, BJP office bearers held a meeting chaired by BJP president...

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Massive car bomb as Afghan race runs tight

KABUL (Reuters) - With early results on Tuesday showing Afghanistan's presidential race neck-and-neck, a massive truck bomb that killed 40 civilians and wounded 60 in Kandahar showed the scale of problems facing the eventual winner. The blast took place shortly after dusk as Afghans across the country were breaking their daily fast in the holy Muslim month of Ramadan. There was confusion over whether the explosion was from one big truck bomb or a series of smaller, simultaneous devices. A Reuters witness saw a restaurant set ablaze and a shop and several houses flattened. Provincial Governor Ahmed Wali Karzai told Reuters that 40 people were killed and more than 60 wounded, all civilians. Four U.S. servicemen were killed...

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Massive car bomb as Afghan race runs tight

KABUL (Reuters) - With early results on Tuesday showing Afghanistan's presidential race neck-and-neck, a massive truck bomb that killed 40 civilians and wounded 60 in Kandahar showed the scale of problems facing the eventual winner. The blast took place shortly after dusk as Afghans across the country were breaking their daily fast in the holy Muslim month of Ramadan. There was confusion over whether the explosion was from one big truck bomb or a series of smaller, simultaneous devices. A Reuters witness saw a restaurant set ablaze and a shop and several houses flattened. Provincial Governor Ahmed Wali Karzai told Reuters that 40 people were killed and more than 60 wounded, all civilians. Four U.S. servicemen were killed...

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Notice to Maya over arson in Joshi's house

LUCKNOW: Rejecting objections of advocate-general Jyotindra Mishra, the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court on Tuesday issued notice to chief minister Mayawati in connection with riot and arson at the residence of state Congress president Rita Bahuguna Joshi. The bench also issued notice to CB-CID, governor’s principal secretary, Union government and CBI on the writ filed by Joshi seeking CBI probe into the case. The division bench, comprising Justice Abdul Mateen and Justice Ashwani Kumar Singh, also directed the state government to submit a progress report on the CB-CID probe into the case. Joshi had claimed that in a bid to save face, the CB-CID had booked five innocents in the case. Directing the respondents to file counter-affidavit in the matter, the bench fixed October 13...

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Notice to Maya over arson in Joshi's house

LUCKNOW: Rejecting objections of advocate-general Jyotindra Mishra, the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court on Tuesday issued notice to chief minister Mayawati in connection with riot and arson at the residence of state Congress president Rita Bahuguna Joshi. The bench also issued notice to CB-CID, governor’s principal secretary, Union government and CBI on the writ filed by Joshi seeking CBI probe into the case. The division bench, comprising Justice Abdul Mateen and Justice Ashwani Kumar Singh, also directed the state government to submit a progress report on the CB-CID probe into the case. Joshi had claimed that in a bid to save face, the CB-CID had booked five innocents in the case. Directing the respondents to file counter-affidavit in the matter, the bench fixed October 13...

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Mehsud is dead: Pak Taliban

Islamabad Aug. 25: The Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) on Tuesday formally acknowledged that their chief Baitullah Mehsud is dead. New TTP chief Hakeemullah Mehsud said Baitullah Mehsud died on Sunday saying it was from wounds in the US missile attack earlier this month. "He was wounded. He got the wounds in a drone strike and he was martyred two days ago," Hakeemullah Mehsud told the BBC. It was the first time the militants acknowledged Mehsud’s death, first reported shortly after the CIA missile strike August 5 near the Afghan border. Last Saturday, the TTP appointed Hakeemullah Mehsud as their chief to succeed Baitullah Mehsud. Mehsud’s aides earlier denied their leader was dead. Pakistani and US officials said the Taliban have shown no evidence that he is alive. Jockeying for power...

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Mehsud is dead: Pak Taliban

Islamabad Aug. 25: The Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) on Tuesday formally acknowledged that their chief Baitullah Mehsud is dead. New TTP chief Hakeemullah Mehsud said Baitullah Mehsud died on Sunday saying it was from wounds in the US missile attack earlier this month. "He was wounded. He got the wounds in a drone strike and he was martyred two days ago," Hakeemullah Mehsud told the BBC. It was the first time the militants acknowledged Mehsud’s death, first reported shortly after the CIA missile strike August 5 near the Afghan border. Last Saturday, the TTP appointed Hakeemullah Mehsud as their chief to succeed Baitullah Mehsud. Mehsud’s aides earlier denied their leader was dead. Pakistani and US officials said the Taliban have shown no evidence that he is alive. Jockeying for power...

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Swine flu claims third victim, Faridabad woman dies at RML

A 44-year-old woman from Faridabad became the third victim of H1N1 influenza in the Capital early Tuesday morning. The patient, Usha Jain, succumbed to the viral infection at RML Hospital after suffering three cardiac arrests, doctors said. Jain was referred to RML Hospital from a private hospital in Faridabad on Friday (August 21), her family members have informed. “The patient passed away this morning after her condition deteriorated rapidly — she has been tested positive for H1N1 influenza,” RML Hospital’s medical superintendent Dr N K Chaturvedi said. Jain was admitted with symptoms of fever, breathlessness and joint pain, according to RML Hospital doctors. A source in the hospital said Jain’s condition was critical since the day she was admitted. “She was on ventilator support since...

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Swine flu claims third victim, Faridabad woman dies at RML

A 44-year-old woman from Faridabad became the third victim of H1N1 influenza in the Capital early Tuesday morning. The patient, Usha Jain, succumbed to the viral infection at RML Hospital after suffering three cardiac arrests, doctors said. Jain was referred to RML Hospital from a private hospital in Faridabad on Friday (August 21), her family members have informed. “The patient passed away this morning after her condition deteriorated rapidly — she has been tested positive for H1N1 influenza,” RML Hospital’s medical superintendent Dr N K Chaturvedi said. Jain was admitted with symptoms of fever, breathlessness and joint pain, according to RML Hospital doctors. A source in the hospital said Jain’s condition was critical since the day she was admitted. “She was on ventilator support since...

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CRICKET LATEST

Total: 220 for 3 in 72.0 overs Run Rate: 3.06Sri Lanka InningsFull Scorecard | Flash ScorecardRefreshBatsman Status Runs Balls 4's 6'sMahela Jayawardena On Strike 68 149 6 0Thilan Samaraweera Not Out 50 92 7 0Bowlers Overs Maidens Runs Wickets Wides No BallsDaniel Vettori 24 7 61 2 0 1Jesse Ryder 1 0 13 0 0 0Live Commentary - SummaryFull Commentary »71.5: J Ryder to Samaraweera, Good length ball on middle. Samaraweera has played it towards mid-wicket. Two runs added to the total.71.4: J Ryder to Samaraweera, FOUR! A length delivery outside off which Samaraweera drives superbly through the covers for a boundary. That was a great looking shot.71.3: J Ryder to Samaraweera, Driven through the covers by Samaraweera.71.2: J Ryder to J'dena, Good length ball on middle. J'dena flicks...

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CRICKET LATEST

Total: 220 for 3 in 72.0 overs Run Rate: 3.06Sri Lanka InningsFull Scorecard | Flash ScorecardRefreshBatsman Status Runs Balls 4's 6'sMahela Jayawardena On Strike 68 149 6 0Thilan Samaraweera Not Out 50 92 7 0Bowlers Overs Maidens Runs Wickets Wides No BallsDaniel Vettori 24 7 61 2 0 1Jesse Ryder 1 0 13 0 0 0Live Commentary - SummaryFull Commentary »71.5: J Ryder to Samaraweera, Good length ball on middle. Samaraweera has played it towards mid-wicket. Two runs added to the total.71.4: J Ryder to Samaraweera, FOUR! A length delivery outside off which Samaraweera drives superbly through the covers for a boundary. That was a great looking shot.71.3: J Ryder to Samaraweera, Driven through the covers by Samaraweera.71.2: J Ryder to J'dena, Good length ball on middle. J'dena flicks...

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