10 coalition soldiers killed in Afghanistan

KABUL: Bombs and bullets killed seven American troops while three NATO troops died in a helicopter crash in one of the deadliest days for foreign troops in Afghanistan since the U.S.-led invasion in 2001, officials said Tuesday.

Four of the deaths Monday came in an attack on a team of U.S. military trainers in the relatively peaceful north, Navy Chief Petty Officer Brian Naranjo, a U.S. military spokesman.

Two Americans were killed in a roadside blast in southern Afghanistan, Naranjo said.

Another American soldier died of wounds in a Monday firefight with militants in the east, a U.S. military spokesman said. Also in the south, two Canadian and a Briton serving with the NATO-led force were killed Monday when their helicopter crashed in Zabul province, said a spokesman for the military alliance, Lt.Commander Chris Hall. The incident was not caused by insurgent fire, Hall said.

SC suspends carbon tax on petroleum products

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan has given interim verdict to suspend the enforcement of the carbon surcharge tax, Geo News reported Tuesday.

The bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammed Chaudhry heard the petitions filed against the raise in petroleum prices.

In case, the carbon tax is withdrawn on petroleum products, the petrol price is expected to come down by Rs10/lit and diesel price to lower by Rs8/lit and the kerosene oil to come down by Rs6/lit.

The apex court directed Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) to issue notification regarding suspending the carbon tax on petroleum products.

Talking to media, Senior Counsel Akram Chaudhry said that the higher judiciary cancelled the notification issued on June 30 and directed to stop charging the carbon tax until the Court concludes hearing.

Attorney General of Pakistan Lateef Khosa, Secretary Petroleum and representative of OGRA attended the hearing.

Commenting on the verdict, Adviser on Petroleum Dr Asim Hussain said the price of petroleum products will return to pre July 1 level, adding the ministry of petroleum respects the verdict of higher judiciary.

Pakistan stunned by Sri Lanka’s dramatic win in 1st Test

GALLE: Rangana Herath skittled Pakistan with his left-arm spin to hand Sri Lanka a dramatic, 50-run victory in the first cricket Test here on Tuesday.

Herath grabbed 4-15 as Pakistan, chasing a modest target of 168, collapsed from a seemingly impregnable 71-2 to 117 all out in their second innings before lunch on the fourth day.

Fast bowler Thilan Thushara and spinner Ajantha Mendis chipped in with two wickets each as a jittery Pakistan lost their last eight batsmen for 46 runs at the Galle International Stadium.

The brilliant win gave Sri Lanka a 1-0 lead in the three-Test series, the first between the two nations since gunmen attacked the Sri Lankan team bus in the Pakistani city of Lahore on March 3.

Seven Sri Lankan players were injured and eight local security men were killed in the attack, prompting the sport's governing body to move 2011 World Cup matches out of Pakistan.

Pakistan, who beat Sri Lanka in the World Twenty20 final in London last month, now have four days to ponder the loss before the second Test starts at the P. Sara Oval in Colombo on July 12.

Herath, who replaced the injured Muttiah Muralitharan for this match, struck twice in the day's second over when he removed the overnight pair of Mohammad Yousuf and Salman Butt in the space of four deliveries.

Yousuf, century-maker in the first innings, was given out leg-before as he padded up to a straight ball from the left-armer that was headed for middle stump.

Left-handed Butt, who looked good while making 28 on Monday, appeared to lose concentration after Yousuf's departure and pulled Herath high to Tharanga Paranavitana at deep square-leg.

Wickets tumbled at regular intervals after that and Herath, later named man of the match, signalled the victory by having Abdur Rauf snapped up at first slip by former captain Mahela Jayawardene.